John Toner
Encyclopedia
John L. Toner is a former college football
head coach
and athletic director
at the University of Connecticut
(UConn). During his 18-year tenure as athletic director Toner also served in several roles with the National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA), including as its president from 1983 to 1985. Toner was responsible for several momentous decisions in his time as athletic director at UConn, including UConn becoming a founding member of the Big East Conference
in 1979, as well as the hiring of future Hall of Fame coaches Geno Auriemma
and Jim Calhoun
. He also oversaw the funding and construction of Gampel Pavilion.
in 1969, continuing a tradition of elevating someone from the football program to that position. He served in that position for 17 years until he resigned in 1987 except to oversee the construction of Gampel Pavilion.
in May 1979, but was uncertain. On May 26, UConn was given a 24-hour deadline to decide whether they would join. Toner, unable to reach the university president, unilaterally accepted the invitation.
's leaving college early to join the United States Football League
.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
and athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
at the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
(UConn). During his 18-year tenure as athletic director Toner also served in several roles with the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA), including as its president from 1983 to 1985. Toner was responsible for several momentous decisions in his time as athletic director at UConn, including UConn becoming a founding member of the Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
in 1979, as well as the hiring of future Hall of Fame coaches Geno Auriemma
Geno Auriemma
Luigi "Geno" Auriemma is the head coach of the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team, which he has led to seven National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I national championships...
and Jim Calhoun
Jim Calhoun
James A. Calhoun is the head coach of the University of Connecticut's men's basketball team. His teams have won three national championships , played in four Final Fours , won the 1988 NIT championship, and have won seven Big East tournament championships...
. He also oversaw the funding and construction of Gampel Pavilion.
Football coach
Toner became UConn's 21st head football coach in 1966. In five seasons under Toner the Huskies compiled a 20–24–3 record. Toner resigned as football coach at the end of the 1970 season to concentrate on his position as athletic director.Athletic director
Toner became UConn's athletic directorAthletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
in 1969, continuing a tradition of elevating someone from the football program to that position. He served in that position for 17 years until he resigned in 1987 except to oversee the construction of Gampel Pavilion.
Joining the Big East Conference
Toner was first approached about Connecticut becoming a founding member of the Big East ConferenceBig East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
in May 1979, but was uncertain. On May 26, UConn was given a 24-hour deadline to decide whether they would join. Toner, unable to reach the university president, unilaterally accepted the invitation.
NCAA
Toner served as president of the NCAA from 1983–85. During his tenure, he was involved in implementing Title IX in collegiate athletics, splitting college football into Divisions I-A and I-AA, and passing new freshman eligibility rules. He also was involved in Herschel WalkerHerschel Walker
Herschel Junior Walker is an American mixed martial artist and a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs and earned the 1982 Heisman Trophy. He began his professional career with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League...
's leaving college early to join the United States Football League
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
.
Honors and awards
- In 1997, the National Football Foundation inaugurated its John L. Toner Award, with Toner as the first recipient.
- On February 28, 2009, Toner was inducted as the 29th member of the UConn Huskies of HonorHuskies of HonorHuskies of Honor is a recognition program sponsored by the University of Connecticut . Similar to a hall of fame, it honors the most significant figures in the history of the Connecticut Huskies—the university's athletic teams—especially the men's and women's basketball teams...
.