Born in
Webster
City
,
Iowa
in 1937.
Was a 3 sport athlete all
four years of high school from 1952-1955.
Played Football for Pete Susick and was a 3 year letterman.
Played halfback on State Co-Champion Team of 1954.
Named 1st team All-State and 2nd team
All-American.
Played starting guard in
basketball and was coached by Bruce Hoffine.
Was coached by Walt McClure in track and was a four year
letterman. At the county
meet John was champion in the 100 yard dash all four years of high
school. Was 4th place at State meet in 100 and 220 as a
junior. District Champ in
100 yard dash and 2nd in 220 as a senior.
An injury prevented him from participating in the state meet.
Attended U of O on full ride
football/academic scholarship, but career ending knee injury during
Shrine Game practices prevented college athletic participation.
John married his sweetheart
(then & now) Rosalie Gilfillan in 1957.
Graduated U of O in 1959 and returned to
Coos
Bay
to begin his career as an educator and started his family of four
terrific sons. John taught
all subjects of math at
Marshfield
for 33 years. He coached
athletics at MHS for 42 years. Coached
as a 3 sport assistant alongside Susick, Hoffine and McClure in
football, basketball & track for 17 consecutive years 1965-1981.
In football he was the head
coach from 1980-1988 (four years in the state playoffs).
Was assistant coach during the state 2nd place team of
1969 and was assistant coach during the 1992 state championship team and
1994 state runner up team. John
retired from teaching in 1992 but continued coaching and currently helps
his son Marty with the successful program at
Sheldon
High School
.
He coached basketball for 24
years at
Marshfield
. John was the boys’ head
coach for four years and in the state tournament 2 of those 4 years.
“District Coach of Year” in 1978.
Head Girls Basketball coach for three years.
Worked as assistant coach with Bruce Hoffine for 15 years with 3
state tournament teams in 1968, 70 and 71.
John coached track for over
20 years primarily in the sprints and jumps.
To this day he still volunteers at
Marshfield
’s home track meet as the head judge in the long jump at Pete Susick
Stadium. John also tutor’s
math to home school and college students and recently helped with 5th
grade students at Coburg Elementary. |