John Yovicsin
Encyclopedia
John Michael Yovicsin was an American football
player and coach. He played college football
at Gettysburg College
from 1937 to 1939 and then professionally with Philadelphia Eagles
of the NFL
in 1944. Yovicsin served as the head football coach at Gettysburg College from 1952 to 1956 and at Harvard University
from 1957 to 1970, compiling a career record of 110–53–5.
Yovicsin was born in Steelton, Pennsylvania
and graduated from Gettysburg College
in 1940. He returned to Gettysburg as assistant football coach in 1948 and was the head coach there from 1952 to 1956, tallying a mark of 32–11. During his 14 years at Harvard, Yovicsin amassed a record of 78–42–5. He helmed the Crimson
during the famous 1968 Harvard–Yale Game, in which Harvard mounted a late comeback to tie Yale
, 29–29. Yovicsin's role as coach is mentioned many times in the documentary Harvard Beats Yale 29-29
, where players on both the Harvard and Yale squads talk about his professorial bearing.
Yovicsin died on September 13, 1989 of heart disease in Barnstable, Massachusetts
at the age of 70.
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 coach. He played college football
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...
at Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College is a private four-year liberal arts college founded in 1832, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States, adjacent to the famous battlefield. Its athletic teams are nicknamed the Bullets. Gettysburg College has about 2,700 students, with roughly equal numbers of men and women...
from 1937 to 1939 and then professionally with Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
in 1944. Yovicsin served as the head football coach at Gettysburg College from 1952 to 1956 and at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
from 1957 to 1970, compiling a career record of 110–53–5.
Yovicsin was born in Steelton, Pennsylvania
Steelton, Pennsylvania
Steelton is a borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, three miles southeast of Harrisburg. In 1900, 12,086 people lived here; in 1910, 14,246 people lived here; in 1920, 13,248 people lived here; and in 1940, 13,115 people lived here. The population was 5,858 at the 2000 census...
and graduated from Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College is a private four-year liberal arts college founded in 1832, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States, adjacent to the famous battlefield. Its athletic teams are nicknamed the Bullets. Gettysburg College has about 2,700 students, with roughly equal numbers of men and women...
in 1940. He returned to Gettysburg as assistant football coach in 1948 and was the head coach there from 1952 to 1956, tallying a mark of 32–11. During his 14 years at Harvard, Yovicsin amassed a record of 78–42–5. He helmed the Crimson
Harvard Crimson football
The Harvard Crimson football program represents Harvard University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision . Harvard's football program is one of the oldest in the world, having begun competing in the sport in 1873...
during the famous 1968 Harvard–Yale Game, in which Harvard mounted a late comeback to tie Yale
Yale Bulldogs football
The Yale Bulldogs football program represents Yale University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision . Yale's football program is one of the oldest in the world, having begun competing in the sport in 1872...
, 29–29. Yovicsin's role as coach is mentioned many times in the documentary Harvard Beats Yale 29-29
Harvard Beats Yale 29-29
Harvard Beats Yale 29-29 is a 2008 documentary by filmmaker Kevin Rafferty, covering the 1968 meeting between the football teams of Yale and Harvard in their storied rivalry...
, where players on both the Harvard and Yale squads talk about his professorial bearing.
Yovicsin died on September 13, 1989 of heart disease in Barnstable, Massachusetts
Barnstable, Massachusetts
Barnstable is a city, referred to as the Town of Barnstable, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the county seat of Barnstable County. Barnstable is the largest community, both in land area and population, on Cape Cod. The town contains seven villages within its boundaries...
at the age of 70.