John Martin Vesser (October 1, 1900 – March 20, 1996) was an American football player, coach of football and basketball, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Idaho State University for nine seasons during 1941–1951.

Biography

Vesser was born in 1900 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. He played

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...

for Idaho, and was on the West squad for the inaugural

East–West Shrine Game East West (or East and West) may refer to: *East–West dichotomy, the contrast between Eastern and Western society or culture Arts and entertainment Books, journals and magazines *'' East, West'', an anthology of short stories written by Salm ...

in December 1925. Vesser then played professionally for the

Los Angeles Wildcats Los Angeles Wildcats is a name shared by several American football teams from Los Angeles: * Los Angeles Wildcats (AFL), a team that played in the American Football League of 1926 * Los Angeles Wildcats (Minor League AFL), a team that played in the ...

and the Chicago Cardinals. Following his playing career, Vesser became a coach, first at the high school level, then joined the

Idaho Southern Branch Bengals football The Idaho State Bengals football program represents Idaho State University in college football. The Bengals play their home games at Holt Arena, an indoor facility on campus in Pocatello, Idaho. Idaho State is a charter member of the Big Sky Con ...

team as an assistant coach in 1937. In 1941, Vesser succeeded Guy Wicks as head coach; the school was renamed as

Idaho State College , mottoeng = "The truth will set you free" , established = , former_names = Academy of Idaho(1901–1915)Idaho Technical Institute(1915–1927)University of Idaho—Southern Branch(1927–1947)Idaho State ...

in 1947. Vesser spent 11 years as head coach, during which the team competed in nine football seasons, as no teams were fielded in 1943 or 1945 due to World War II, compiling an overall record of . Vesser also served as head coach of the Idaho State Bengals men's basketball team for several seasons, and was athletic director at the college from 1952 to 1965. He was inducted to the North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame in 1974, and the athletics hall of fame at Idaho State in 1979. Vesser died in 1996 in

Pocatello, Idaho Pocatello () is the county seat of and largest city in Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Power County, in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is the principal city of the ...

Head coaching record

College football

References

External links

*
Statscrew profile
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Vesser, John 1900 births 1996 deaths American football ends Basketball coaches from Idaho Chicago Cardinals players High school football coaches in Idaho Idaho State Bengals athletic directors Idaho State Bengals football coaches Idaho State Bengals men's basketball coaches Idaho Vandals football players Los Angeles Wildcats players People from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Players of American football from Idaho