Jerry J. Davitch (born June 9, 1941) is a former
college football
College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
coach and secondary school administrator. Since 2004, he has served as the superintendent of schools in
Richland Township, just northeast of
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is the largest city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,411 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located east of Pittsburgh, it is the principal city of the Metropolitan statistical area ...
. Davitch served in a similar capacity for eight years (1996–2004) in nearby
Conemaugh Township in
Davidsville. He was previously the principal of Conemaugh Township High School and its head football coach.
Playing career
The son of immigrant parents, Davitch played on the
offensive line
In gridiron football, a lineman is a player who specializes in play at the line of scrimmage. The linemen of the team currently in possession of the ball are the offensive line (OL), while linemen on the opposing team are the defensive line ( ...
at
Greater Johnstown High School in
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is the largest city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,411 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located east of Pittsburgh, it is the principal city of the Metropolitan statistical area ...
. He was an undersized
right guard (, ) for the Trojans on an undefeated championship team in the fall of 1958. After graduation in 1959, he accepted a
scholarship
A scholarship is a form of Student financial aid, financial aid awarded to students for further education. Generally, scholarships are awarded based on a set of criteria such as academic merit, Multiculturalism, diversity and inclusion, athleti ...
and headed west to play
college football
College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
and
wrestle at the
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it ...
in
Tucson
Tucson (; ; ) is a city in Pima County, Arizona, United States, and its county seat. It is the second-most populous city in Arizona, behind Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, with a population of 542,630 in the 2020 United States census. The Tucson ...
. Davitch started two years at guard for the Wildcats and was the captain of the wrestling team as a senior; he earned a bachelor's degree in education from UA in 1965.
Early coaching career
After starting as an assistant coach, Davitch first became a
head coach
A head coach, senior coach, or manager is a professional responsible for training and developing athletes within a sports team. This role often has a higher public profile and salary than other coaching positions. In some sports, such as associat ...
in 1969 at
Salpointe High School in
Tucson
Tucson (; ; ) is a city in Pima County, Arizona, United States, and its county seat. It is the second-most populous city in Arizona, behind Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, with a population of 542,630 in the 2020 United States census. The Tucson ...
. His record was in the four years, including a 9–1 season in 1971. While at Salpointe, he completed his master's degree in secondary education at UA in 1971. His offense at Salpointe used the relatively new
wishbone formation.
Davitch moved up to college ranks after the 1972 season as an assistant coach at
Air Force
An air force in the broadest sense is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army aviati ...
for five seasons, from
1973
Events January
* January 1 – The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union.
* January 14 - The 16-0 19 ...
through
1977
Events January
* January 8 – 1977 Moscow bombings, Three bombs explode in Moscow within 37 minutes, killing seven. The bombings are attributed to an Armenian separatist group.
* January 10 – Mount Nyiragongo erupts in eastern Zaire (no ...
.
Under head coach
Ben Martin, Davitch coached the offensive line for the first three seasons and receivers for the final two.
Collegiate head coach
On January 10, 1978, 36-year-oid Davitch was hired as the
head coach
A head coach, senior coach, or manager is a professional responsible for training and developing athletes within a sports team. This role often has a higher public profile and salary than other coaching positions. In some sports, such as associat ...
of the
Idaho Vandals
The Idaho Vandals are the intercollegiate athletic teams representing the University of Idaho, located in Moscow, Idaho. The Vandals compete at the NCAA Division I level as a member of the Big Sky Conference.
The Idaho Vandals football, footbal ...
of the
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is a List of NCAA conferences, collegiate athletic conference, affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA's NCAA Division I, Division I with college football, football competing in the Football Cha ...
, at an annual salary of
At the time, Idaho football had posted just four winning seasons in over four decades, and the last four head coaches had been fired after two to four seasons. In addition, no Vandal head football coach had left with a winning record since
1928
Events January
* January – British bacteriologist Frederick Griffith reports the results of Griffith's experiment, indirectly demonstrating that DNA is the genetic material.
* January 1 – Eastern Bloc emigration and defection: Boris B ...
. Through the
1977
Events January
* January 8 – 1977 Moscow bombings, Three bombs explode in Moscow within 37 minutes, killing seven. The bombings are attributed to an Armenian separatist group.
* January 10 – Mount Nyiragongo erupts in eastern Zaire (no ...
season, Idaho was a
Division I football program in a
Division II football conference. When the Big Sky was formed in
1963
Events January
* January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Cove ...
, Idaho intended to join for all sports ''except'' football, and continued to play as a
"University Division" independent, which it did through
1964
Events January
* January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved.
* January 5 – In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patria ...
with
Dee Andros. At the time, there were six teams in the conference and one did not play football (
Gonzaga), for only four conference games per year. Idaho had been a member of the
Pacific Coast Conference
The Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) was a collegiate athletic conference in the United States which existed from 1915 to 1959. Though the Pac-12 Conference claims the PCC's history as part of its own, with eight of the ten PCC members (includin ...
(PCC) from
1922
Events
January
* January 7 – Dáil Éireann (Irish Republic), Dáil Éireann, the parliament of the Irish Republic, ratifies the Anglo-Irish Treaty by 64–57 votes.
* January 10 – Arthur Griffith is elected President of Dáil Éirean ...
through
1958
Events
January
* January 1 – The European Economic Community (EEC) comes into being.
* January 3 – The West Indies Federation is formed.
* January 4
** Edmund Hillary's Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition completes the thir ...
, the conference's final football season.
Idaho reluctantly agreed to conference play in the Big Sky for the
1965
Events January–February
* January 14 – The First Minister of Northern Ireland and the Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland meet for the first time in 43 years.
* January 20
** Lyndon B. Johnson is Second inauguration of Lynd ...
season, but maintained the upper tier status by filling their non-conference schedule with other University Division teams. After a weak schedule in
1966
Events January
* January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko.
* January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...
, when "Thunder
Ray" McDonald led the nation in rushing, the program was temporarily downgraded by the NCAA in August
1967
Events January
* January 1 – Canada begins a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation, Confederation, featuring the Expo 67 World's Fair.
* January 6 – Vietnam War: United States Marine Corps and Army of ...
, but was elevated back to the University Division in July
1969
1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1969th year of the Common Era (CE) and ''Anno Domini'' (AD) designations, the 969th year of the 2nd millennium, the 69th year of the 20th century, and the ...
, renamed "
Division I" prior to the
1973
Events January
* January 1 – The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union.
* January 14 - The 16-0 19 ...
season. The Big Sky added two teams in
1970
Events
January
* January 1 – Unix time epoch reached at 00:00:00 UTC.
* January 5 – The 7.1 1970 Tonghai earthquake, Tonghai earthquake shakes Tonghai County, Yunnan province, China, with a maximum Mercalli intensity scale, Mercalli ...
, and it became increasingly difficult for the Vandals to stay healthy through its competitive non-conference games, then often fared poorly with reserves when conference play resumed. With the formation of
Division I-AA in
1978
Events January
* January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747 passenger jet, crashes off the coast of Bombay, killing 213.
* January 5 – Bülent Ecevit, of Republican People's Party, CHP, forms the new government of Turkey (42nd ...
, both Idaho and the Big Sky were moved to the new division for its first year, also Davitch's.
Davitch replaced the popular
Ed Troxel
Edward Ross Troxel (November 20, 1925 – January 22, 2001) was a high school and college football coach in Colorado, Idaho, and eastern Washington. His most notable coaching stops were at Borah High School in Boise, the University of I ...
, a longtime defensive assistant, four-year head coach, and former head coach of the track team. Troxel was asked to resign by the new university president on New Year's Eve, six weeks after his
fourth season concluded with a disappointing record. The Vandals were the previous season (
1976
Events January
* January 2 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force.
* January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea.
* January 18 – Full diplomatic ...
), their first winning record
in five years. (Troxel, the highly successful head coach at
Borah High in
Boise
Boise ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 census, there were 235,685 people residing in the city. Located on the Boise River in southwestern Idaho, it is east of the Oregon border and nor ...
for its first nine years had been reluctant to accept the position; he turned it down after the
1970
Events
January
* January 1 – Unix time epoch reached at 00:00:00 UTC.
* January 5 – The 7.1 1970 Tonghai earthquake, Tonghai earthquake shakes Tonghai County, Yunnan province, China, with a maximum Mercalli intensity scale, Mercalli ...
and
1973
Events January
* January 1 – The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark 1973 enlargement of the European Communities, enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union.
* January 14 - The 16-0 19 ...
seasons, but was ultimately persuaded by the players to accept.)
Davitch retained the
veer
The Veer is an option running play often associated with option offenses in American football, made famous at the College football, collegiate level by Bill Yeoman's Houston Cougars football, Houston Cougars. It is currently run primarily at Hi ...
option on offense, but the progress was slow in his
first two seasons. In his third season in
1980
Events January
* January 4 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter proclaims a United States grain embargo against the Soviet Union, grain embargo against the USSR with the support of the European Commission.
* January 6 – Global Positioning Sys ...
, the improving Vandals went 6–5 with
walk-on redshirt
Redshirt, Red Shirt, or Redshirts may refer to:
Sports
* Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt, in United States college athletics, is a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen their period of eligibility. Typically ...
freshman
Ken Hobart at quarterback, with a record in conference play. Expectations were high entering the
1981
Events January
* January 1
** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union.
** Palau becomes a self-governing territory.
* January 6 – A funeral service is held in West Germany for Nazi Grand Admiral ...
season,
and the "Gold Rush" Vandals were picked as one of the top five teams in
Division I-AA by The Vandals lost close games and then were hit by injuries; they lost their final six games to finish at and were winless in conference. (Mercurial
Idaho State won the Big Sky and the Division I-AA title in
1981
Events January
* January 1
** Greece enters the European Economic Community, predecessor of the European Union.
** Palau becomes a self-governing territory.
* January 6 – A funeral service is held in West Germany for Nazi Grand Admiral ...
.)
Davitch compiled a record in his four seasons in
Moscow
Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...
and became the fifth consecutive head coach to fired;
he was notified nine days before his final game,
a home loss to
rival
A rivalry is the state of two people or Social group, groups engaging in a lasting competitive relationship. Rivalry is the "against each other" spirit between two competing sides. The relationship itself may also be called "a rivalry", and each ...
Boise State, the defending I-AA national champions.
Davitch was succeeded by 34-year-old
Dennis Erickson
Dennis Brian Erickson (born March 24, 1947) is an American football coach who most recently served as the head coach for the Salt Lake Stallions of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) league. He was also the head coach at the University of ...
, hired on December 11. Idaho achieved success in the next two decades and did not fire a head football coach for 22 years (
Tom Cable after
2003
2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater.
In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War.
Demographic ...
).
After Idaho
In 1982, Davitch returned to Tucson to work as an athletics administrator for the public school district and as a broadcaster for
Arizona
Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...
football.
While at Idaho in 1980, Davitch had interviewed for the Arizona head coaching position, which went to
Larry Smith, then at
Tulane.
After several years in Arizona, Davitch returned to
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...
and was the
head coach
A head coach, senior coach, or manager is a professional responsible for training and developing athletes within a sports team. This role often has a higher public profile and salary than other coaching positions. In some sports, such as associat ...
at his
alma mater
Alma mater (; : almae matres) is an allegorical Latin phrase meaning "nourishing mother". It personifies a school that a person has attended or graduated from. The term is related to ''alumnus'', literally meaning 'nursling', which describes a sc ...
,
Greater Johnstown High School, from 1985 to 1990. In six seasons, he had a record, which included a title in 1989. Davitch was later the head coach at
Conemaugh Township High School in
Davidsville.
Richland School District
– Administration – Jerry Davitch Davitch was also the principal of CT High School, and later the superintendent of schools In 2004, he became superintendent of schools in Richland Township, just northeast of his childhood hometown of Johnstown.
At age 73, Davitch came out of retirement in 2014 to be the head football coach at Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown.
Personal
While head coach at Idaho, Davitch married his wife Terry and both of their sons were born, Jim and Jerry. Both served as officers in the U.S. Air Force, as did their wives.
Head coaching record
College
References
External links
Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame
– Jerry Davitch
{{DEFAULTSORT:Davitch, Jerry
1941 births
Living people
American football guards
Air Force Falcons football coaches
Arizona Wildcats football players
Arizona Wildcats wrestlers
Idaho Vandals football coaches
High school football coaches in Arizona
High school football coaches in Pennsylvania
Players of American football from Johnstown, Pennsylvania