John Godfrey (American football)

John Henry "Tiger" Godfrey (August 13, 1921 – September 14, 2008) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Whittier College in Whittier, California from 1960 to 1979, compiling a record of 118–68–6.

John Godfrey
Biographical details
Born(1921-08-13)August 13, 1921
Port Angeles, Washington, U.S.
DiedSeptember 14, 2008(2008-09-14) (aged 87)
Tualatin, Oregon, U.S.
Playing career
1942Washington State
1946–1947Washington State
Position(s)Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1948–1949Punahou (HI) (line)
1950Farrington HS (HI)
1952–1953Punahou (HI)
1954–1955Bellingham HS (WA)
1957–1959Whittier (assistant)
1960–1979Whittier
Track
1963Whittier
Head coaching record
Overall118–68–6 (college football)
Tournaments0–1 (NAIA playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
9 SCIAC (1960–1964, 1967–1969, 1972)

A native of Tacoma, Washington, Godfrey played college football at the State College of Washington—now known as Washington State University—Was a guard. He first lettered in 1942 during Babe Hollingbery's final year as head coach of the Washington State Cougars. Godfrey served as an infantryman in the United States Army during World War II, in New Guinea, the Philippines, and Japan. He returned to Washington State after the war and played two more seasons for the Cougars under head coach Phil Sarboe. Godfrey was co-captain of the 1947 Washington State Cougars football team and played in the Hula Bowl in 1948.

Godfrey began his coaching career in 1948 as an assistant football coach at the Punahou School in Honolulu. After two years as line coach at Punahou under head coach Fritz Minuth, Godfrey was appointed head football coach at Honolulu's Farrington High School. Godfrey spent 1951 on active military service duty and resumed coaching in 1952 as head football coach at Punahou.[1] Godfrey returned to the Washington in 1954 as head football coach at Bellingham High School in Bellingham.[2] He moved on to Whittier in 1957 and served as an assistant football coach under Don Coryell for three seasons before succeeding him as head coach in 1960.[3]

Godfrey died on September 14, 2008, in Tualatin, Oregon, from complications of Parkinson's disease.[4]

Head coaching record

College football
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Pomona/Whittier Poets (Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1960–1979)
1960 Whittier 8–24–1T–1st
1961 Whittier 9–14–01stL NAIA Semifinal
1962 Whittier 8–13–01st
1963 Whittier 6–2–12–1T–1st
1964 Whittier 9–14–01st
1965 Whittier 4–52–2T–3rd
1966 Whittier 3–5–23–1–1T–2nd
1967 Whittier 4–64–11st
1968 Whittier 5–44–11st
1969 Whittier 5–54–01st
1970 Whittier 4–62–2T–3rd
1971 Whittier 5–4–13–2T–2nd
1972 Whittier 7–2–15–01st
1973 Whittier 6–33–2T–2nd
1974 Whittier 7–24–12nd
1975 Whittier 3–6–12–3T–3rd
1976 Whittier 6–42–3T–4th
1977 Whittier 8–24–12nd
1978 Whittier 6–33–23rd
1979 Whittier 5–43–2T–2nd
Whittier: 118–68–665–25–1
Total:118–68–6
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References
  1. "John Godfrey Plans To Use T and Single Wing". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Honolulu, Hawaii. January 2, 1952. p. 17. Retrieved December 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com open access.
  2. "Godfrey Accepts New Grid Post". The Honolulu Advertiser. Honolulu, Hawaii. February 13, 1954. p. 8. Retrieved December 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com open access.
  3. "John Godfrey New Whittier Football Coach". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. February 3, 1960. p. 70. Retrieved December 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com open access.
  4. Sprague, Mike (September 29, 2008). "Ex Whittier College football coach dies". Pasadena Star-News. Pasadena, California. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
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