John Vesser

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John Vesser
Vesser, c. 1942
Biographical details
Born(1900-10-01)October 1, 1900
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, U.S.
DiedMarch 20, 1996(1996-03-20) (aged 95)
Pocatello, Idaho, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1922–1925Idaho
1926Los Angeles Wildcats
1927Chicago Cardinals
1930–1931Chicago Cardinals
Position(s)End
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1934–1936Lewiston HS (ID)
1937–1940Idaho Southern Branch (assistant)
1941–1951Idaho Southern Branch / Idaho State
Basketball
1944–1946Idaho Southern Branch / Idaho State
1947–1948Idaho State
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1952–1965Idaho State
Head coaching record
Overall41–27–6 (college football)

John Martin Vesser (October 1, 1900 – March 20, 1996) was an American football player, coach of football and basketball, and college athletics administrator.[1] He served as the head football coach at Idaho State University for nine seasons, from 1941 to 1951.

Biography[edit]

Vesser was born in 1900 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.[2] He played college football for Idaho, and was on the West squad for the inaugural East–West Shrine Game in December 1925.[3][4] Vesser then played professionally for the Los Angeles Wildcats and the Chicago Cardinals.

Following his playing career, Vesser became a coach, first at the high school level, then joined the Idaho Southern Branch Bengals football team as an assistant coach in 1937. In 1941, Vesser succeeded Guy Wicks as head coach;[5] the school was renamed as Idaho State College in 1947. Vesser spent 11 years as head coach, during which the team competed in nine football seasons, as no teams were fielded in 1943 or 1945 due to World War II, compiling an overall record of 41–27–6 (.595).

Vesser also served as head coach of the Idaho State Bengals men's basketball team for several seasons, and was athletic director at the college from 1952 to 1965. He was inducted to the North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame in 1974,[6] and the athletics hall of fame at Idaho State in 1979.[7] Vesser died in 1996 in Pocatello, Idaho.[2]

Head coaching record[edit]

College football[edit]

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Idaho Southern Branch / State Bengals (Independent) (1941–1949)
1941 Idaho Southern Branch 5–1–2
1942 Idaho Southern Branch 4–2
1943 No team—World War II
1944 Idaho Southern Branch 4–5
1945 No team—World War II
1946 Idaho Southern Branch 4–3–1
1947 Idaho State 3–5–1
1948 Idaho State 6–1–1
1949 Idaho State 6–2–1
Idaho State Bengals (Rocky Mountain Conference) (1950–1951)
1950 Idaho State 4–4 3–2 T–2nd
1951 Idaho State 5–4 3–2 T–2nd
Idaho Southern Branch / Idaho State: 41–27–6 6–4
Total: 41–27–6

[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "John Vesser". Pro-Football-Reference. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "John Vesser Stats". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  3. ^ "All-time Lettermen". Idaho Vandals Football Media Guide. 2011. p. 142. Retrieved March 22, 2022 – via Issuu.
  4. ^ "Stars Gather for Football Clash". Tacoma Daily Ledger. Tacoma, Washington. December 19, 1925. p. 10. Retrieved March 22, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Idaho SB Squad Opens Grid Drills". Deseret News. Salt Lake City. AP. September 11, 1941. p. 14. Retrieved March 20, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "John Vesser". nihof.org. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  7. ^ "John Vesser". isubengals.com. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  8. ^ "Coach Records". isubengals.com. Retrieved March 20, 2022.

External links[edit]