Wisconsin Football Coaches Association

Born April 20, 1920 in Adair, IA

Graduate of Valley High School, West Des Moines, Iowa, BS University of Wisconsin-Madison, MS University of Wisconsin – Madison

Coached football at:

Stevens Point High School 1946-51;
U.W. -Stevens Point 1952-56;
Executive Director of the WIAA for 29 years 1956-85.
His record included three Conference Championships. All three were undefeated.

John graduated from Valley High School in Iowa where he lettered in football, wrestling and track. He was an All State Football selection in 1937 and a State Wrestling Champion in 1937 and 1938. At the University of Wisconsin John played football for three years and was Big Ten Wrestling Champion in 1941-42. He was NCAA Runner-Up in 1941.

From 1943 to 1945 he was a pilot and instructor in the Army Air Corps.

In 1946 John became Athletic Director, Head Football and Wrestling Coach at Stevens Point High School. In 1948 his wrestling team won the State Championship. From 1952-56 he was Director of Physical Education, Head Football and Wrestling Coach at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

In 1956 he was named the Executive Director of the WIAA - a position he held for 29 years. As Director he was responsible for directing and managing the Interscholastic Athletic Programs for the 424 member high schools and 400 junior high schools involving approximately 85,000 boys and girls and a 2.3 million dollar budget.

John was a member of the National Federation Football Rules Advisory Committee from 1957 to 1985; United States Olympic Games Committee 1973-1976, National Federation Executive Committee 1979-1982, Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Board of Directors National "W" Club, and many other committees.

John was inducted into the UW-Stevens Point Athletic Hall of Fame in 1975, Wisconsin High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1978. He received the National Federation Award of Merit for outstanding service to Interscholastic Athletics at the State and National level in 1985, National Federation Citation for outstanding contributions to high school athletics in 1981, Scholastic Wrestling Man of the Year in 1974, and the Stevens Point Distinguished Citizen Award in 1975.

John retired in 1985.