Jack Elway
Encyclopedia
John Albert "Jack" Elway, Sr. (May 30, 1931 – April 15, 2001) was an American football
player and head coach; he was the father of John Elway
, a Pro Football Hall of Fame
quarterback
.
, and played quarterback
at Washington State University
in Pullman
for one season until a knee surgery ended his playing career. He earned both bachelor's and master's degrees from WSU.
High School; all three of his children were born in Port Angeles. In 1961 he was hired as the head coach at Grays Harbor College
, a junior college
in Aberdeen
, near his hometown of Hoquiam in southwestern Washington. Following the 1966 season, he became an assistant coach in the Big Sky Conference
at the University of Montana
under head coach Jack Swarthout. After five seasons in Missoula
with the Grizzlies
,
he moved to the Pac-8 at his alma mater
following the 1971 season, as an assistant under head coach Jim Sweeney
, and stayed in Pullman for four seasons. Sweeney abruptly resigned after the 1975 season and went to Fresno State
, so Elway joined the staff at neighboring Idaho
under head coach Ed Troxel
in February 1976. Elway replaced Dennis Erickson
, who had joined Sweeney at Fresno in December. Elway didn't last long in Moscow
; he left in late March after only five weeks on the the Vandals'
staff to become a Division II head coach in southern California.
in the San Fernando Valley
of Los Angeles
. At the time, Elway's son John
was a budding high school quarterback
, finishing his freshman year at Pullman High School
. He transferred to Granada Hills High School at the start of his sophomore year, and his play over the next three football seasons invited scores of scholarship
offers; he selected Stanford
and enrolled in 1979.
After three seasons at Northridge, Jack Elway moved up the California coast (and up to Division I) to San Jose State
following the 1978 season, where his first offensive coordinator
was Dennis Erickson
. They employed the spread offense, which Elway had picked up from his son's high school coach, and then used at Northridge. San Jose State had considerable success, especially against Stanford
, where son John was the starting quarterback through the 1982 season. Jack Elway's Spartans
won three consecutive games over Stanford from 1981–83, and he compiled an overall record of 35–20–1 (.634) in five seasons.
After John's graduation, Jack Elway moved the few miles up the peninsula to Stanford
in 1984, where he was head coach for five seasons and compiled 25–29–2 record (.446). In 1991 he coached the Frankfurt Galaxy
of the WLAF
during the team's first two years. Elway later worked in the Denver Broncos
scouting department from 1993–99, the last five as director of pro scouting.
. Elway was survived by his wife, Jan, daughters, Lee Ann and Jana, son John
, and eight grandchildren. Jana, twin
sister of John, died of lung cancer
in 2002 at the age of 42.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and head coach; he was the father of John Elway
John Elway
John Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos...
, a Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
.
Early life
Elway was a native of Hoquiam, WashingtonHoquiam, Washington
Hoquiam is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington state, United States. The town borders the city of Aberdeen at Myrtle Street with Hoquiam to the west. The two cities share a common economic history in lumbering and exporting but Hoquiam has maintained its independent identity...
, and played quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
at Washington State University
Washington State Cougars football
The Washington State Cougars football team is the intercollegiate football team of Washington State University. The team is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference...
in Pullman
Pullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
for one season until a knee surgery ended his playing career. He earned both bachelor's and master's degrees from WSU.
Early coaching career
Elway then taught and coached at Port AngelesPort Angeles, Washington
Port Angeles is a city in and the county seat of Clallam County, Washington, United States. The population was 19,038 at the 2010 census. The area's harbor was dubbed Puerto de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles by Spanish explorer Francisco de Eliza in 1791, but by the mid-19th century the name had...
High School; all three of his children were born in Port Angeles. In 1961 he was hired as the head coach at Grays Harbor College
Grays Harbor College
Grays Harbor College is a community college located in Aberdeen, Washington, United States. It was founded in 1930. The college sits on an campus in Aberdeen with "learning centers" in Raymond, Ilwaco, North Aberdeen and Southside Aberdeen...
, a junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
in Aberdeen
Aberdeen, Washington
Aberdeen is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States, founded by Samuel Benn in 1884. Aberdeen was incorporated on May 12, 1890. The city is the economic center of Grays Harbor County, bordering the cities of Hoquiam and Cosmopolis...
, near his hometown of Hoquiam in southwestern Washington. Following the 1966 season, he became an assistant coach in the Big Sky Conference
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
at the University of Montana
Montana Grizzlies football
The Montana Grizzlies football program represents the University of Montana in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision of college football. The Grizzlies have competed in the Big Sky Conference, where it is a founding member, since 1963...
under head coach Jack Swarthout. After five seasons in Missoula
Missoula, Montana
Missoula is a city located in western Montana and is the county seat of Missoula County. The 2010 Census put the population of Missoula at 66,788 and the population of Missoula County at 109,299. Missoula is the principal city of the Missoula Metropolitan Area...
with the Grizzlies
Montana Grizzlies football
The Montana Grizzlies football program represents the University of Montana in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision of college football. The Grizzlies have competed in the Big Sky Conference, where it is a founding member, since 1963...
,
he moved to the Pac-8 at his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
following the 1971 season, as an assistant under head coach Jim Sweeney
Jim Sweeney (coach)
Jim Sweeney is a former American football coach. He served as the head coach at Montana State University , Washington State University , and California State University, Fresno . Sweeney's 143 wins as the head coach at Fresno State are the most in the history of the program...
, and stayed in Pullman for four seasons. Sweeney abruptly resigned after the 1975 season and went to Fresno State
Fresno State Bulldogs football
The Fresno State Bulldogs football team represents California State University, Fresno in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The green “V” on the Bulldogs' helmets, uniforms, field symbolize California Central Valley, specifically the San Joaquin Valley, the agricultural valley from which they...
, so Elway joined the staff at neighboring Idaho
Idaho Vandals football
The Idaho Vandals are a college football team that represents the University of Idaho. The Vandals currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I...
under head coach Ed Troxel
Ed Troxel
-External links:* - Ed Troxel - Idaho - 1974-77...
in February 1976. Elway replaced Dennis Erickson
Dennis Erickson
Dennis Erickson is an American football coach and former player. He was the head football coach at Arizona State University until November 28, 2011, a position he had held since the 2007 season. In 2008 the Arizona Board of Regents had approved a contract extension to keep Erickson at Arizona...
, who had joined Sweeney at Fresno in December. Elway didn't last long in Moscow
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
; he left in late March after only five weeks on the the Vandals'
Idaho Vandals football
The Idaho Vandals are a college football team that represents the University of Idaho. The Vandals currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I...
staff to become a Division II head coach in southern California.
Head coaching career
In late March 1976, Elway was introduced as the head coach at Cal State NorthridgeCalifornia State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge is a public university in Northridge, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California, United States....
in the San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. At the time, Elway's son John
John Elway
John Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos...
was a budding high school quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, finishing his freshman year at Pullman High School
Pullman High School
Pullman High School is a public high school in the city of Pullman, Washington, the home of Washington State University.It is the only public high school in the city and in the Pullman School District...
. He transferred to Granada Hills High School at the start of his sophomore year, and his play over the next three football seasons invited scores of scholarship
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
offers; he selected Stanford
Stanford Cardinal football
The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The...
and enrolled in 1979.
After three seasons at Northridge, Jack Elway moved up the California coast (and up to Division I) to San Jose State
San José State Spartans Football
The San Jose State Spartans represent San Jose State University and the Silicon Valley in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The Spartans play all home games in Spartan Stadium, which offers a seating capacity of over 30,000...
following the 1978 season, where his first offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
was Dennis Erickson
Dennis Erickson
Dennis Erickson is an American football coach and former player. He was the head football coach at Arizona State University until November 28, 2011, a position he had held since the 2007 season. In 2008 the Arizona Board of Regents had approved a contract extension to keep Erickson at Arizona...
. They employed the spread offense, which Elway had picked up from his son's high school coach, and then used at Northridge. San Jose State had considerable success, especially against Stanford
Stanford Cardinal football
The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The...
, where son John was the starting quarterback through the 1982 season. Jack Elway's Spartans
San José State Spartans Football
The San Jose State Spartans represent San Jose State University and the Silicon Valley in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The Spartans play all home games in Spartan Stadium, which offers a seating capacity of over 30,000...
won three consecutive games over Stanford from 1981–83, and he compiled an overall record of 35–20–1 (.634) in five seasons.
After John's graduation, Jack Elway moved the few miles up the peninsula to Stanford
Stanford Cardinal football
The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The...
in 1984, where he was head coach for five seasons and compiled 25–29–2 record (.446). In 1991 he coached the Frankfurt Galaxy
Frankfurt Galaxy
The Frankfurt Galaxy was a professional American football team that originally played in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. The team was based in Frankfurt, Germany and played in the Commerzbank-Arena, formerly called the Waldstadion.-History:In 1991, the...
of the WLAF
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
during the team's first two years. Elway later worked in the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
scouting department from 1993–99, the last five as director of pro scouting.
Death
Elway died on April 15, 2001, following an apparent heart attack in Palm Springs, CaliforniaPalm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
. Elway was survived by his wife, Jan, daughters, Lee Ann and Jana, son John
John Elway
John Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos...
, and eight grandchildren. Jana, twin
Twin
A twin is one of two offspring produced in the same pregnancy. Twins can either be monozygotic , meaning that they develop from one zygote that splits and forms two embryos, or dizygotic because they develop from two separate eggs that are fertilized by two separate sperm.In contrast, a fetus...
sister of John, died of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
in 2002 at the age of 42.