John Yovicsin

John Yovicsin

Biographical details
Born	(1918-10-17)October 17, 1918 Steelton, Pennsylvania
Died	September 13, 1989(1989-09-13) (aged 70) Barnstable, Massachusetts
Playing career
1937–1939	Gettysburg
1944	Philadelphia Eagles
Position(s)	Defensive end
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1948–1951	Gettysburg (assistant)
1952–1956	Gettysburg
1957–1970	Harvard
Head coaching record
Overall	110–53–5
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3 Ivy (1961, 1966, 1968)

John Michael Yovicsin (October 17, 1918 – September 13, 1989) 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 National Football League (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.

Head coaching record

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Gettysburg Bullets () (1952–1956)
1952	Gettysburg	6–3
1953	Gettysburg	8–1
1954	Gettysburg	5–3
1955	Gettysburg	6–2
1956	Gettysburg	7–2
Gettysburg:		32–11
Harvard Crimson (Ivy League) (1957–1970)
1957	Harvard	3–5	2–5	7th
1958	Harvard	4–5	3–4	6th
1959	Harvard	6–3	4–3	3rd
1960	Harvard	5–4	4–3	3rd
1961	Harvard	6–3	6–1	T–1st
1962	Harvard	6–3	5–2	2nd
1963	Harvard	5–2–2	4–2–1	3rd
1964	Harvard	6–3	5–2	2nd
1965	Harvard	5–2–2	3–2–2	3rd
1966	Harvard	8–1	6–1	T–1st
1967	Harvard	6–3	4–3	T–4th
1968	Harvard	8–0–1	6–0–1	T–1st
1969	Harvard	3–6	2–5	T–5th
1970	Harvard	7–2	5–2	T–2nd
Harvard:		78–42–5
Total:		110–53–5
National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

See also

• 1968 Yale vs. Harvard football game

External links

• Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference
• John Yovicsin at Find a Grave