Just seven days until Friday Night Football at Pete Susick Stadium.
Today we honor another of our Pirate former head coaches who was also a Pirate great on the gridiron. The following is from Johnson’s Marshfield High School Hall of Fame induction in 2004.
John was born in Webster City , Iowa in 1937.
He 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 the U of O on a 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.
We are building a new roof for the south grandstands, please visit our Raise the Roof website for more information.
