Saint Michael's College

John was a two-sport standout before becoming a legendary prep coach. A member of the unbeaten, untied 1951 football squad that won the New England championship, he emerged as the starting quarterback and a captain as a senior in 1953 while leading the Purple Knights to their fourth consecutive state title. John was heavily decorated following the season, being named All-Catholic All-America, All-New England and All-State. On the diamond, John helped the Purple Knights tie for the state championship his rookie year. He was the first Roger F. Keleher ’15 Award winner, in 1954. After serving in the Korean War, John began a 35-year career as a high school baseball and football head coach and English teacher in Massachusetts. During a legendary stretch at Watertown High between 1969 and his retirement in 1992, his football teams went 131-89-2 with four league titles. Following a 10-0 1977 season, he was named High School Football Coaches of America Coach of the Year, being recognized as the top prep football coach in the nation. Since his retirement, he has volunteering as a football coach at Saint John’s Prep in Danvers, Mass., and as a baseball coach at Dr. Phillips High in Orlando, Fla. By 2006, the Dr. Phillips High baseball field had been named for him, and the baseball program there hands out a leadership award dedicated to John.