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John Gill (coach)

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John Gill
Biographical details
Born(1898-11-27)November 27, 1898
Akron, Michigan, U.S.
DiedMarch 4, 1997(1997-03-04) (aged 98)
Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1920–1923Western State Normal
Basketball
c. 1923Western State Normal
Baseball
c. 1923Western State Normal
Track and field
c. 1923Western State Normal
Position(s)Halfback (football)
Guard (basketball)
Second baseman (baseball)
Half mile (track)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1924–1925Alma HS (MI)
1926–1927Southwestern HS (MI)
1928–1935Western State Teachers (freshmen)
1936–1941Western State Teachers (backfield)
1942–1952Western State Teachers / Western Michigan
Basketball
1928–?Western State Teachers (freshmen)
Baseball
1929–?Western State Teachers
1944–1945Western Michigan
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1924–1926Alma HS (MI)
1952–1969Western Michigan (associate AD)
Head coaching record
Overall50–34–1 (college football)
20–13–2 (college baseball)

John W. Gill (November 27, 1898 – March 4, 1997) was an American college football and college baseball coach. He served as the head football coach at Western Michigan College of Education—now known as Western Michigan University— from 1942 to 1952, compiling a record of 50–34–1. Gill was also the head baseball coach at Western Michigan from 1944 to 1945, tallying a mark of 0–13–2.

Gill was born on November 27, 1898, in Akron, Michigan.[1] He attended high school in Lansing, Michigan before moving on to Western Michigan—then known as Western State Normal School—where he lettered in four sports prior to graduating in 1924. Gill played as a halfback in football, guard in basketball, and second baseman on the baseball team. He also ran the half mile on the track team.[2]

Gill began his coaching career in 1924 when was hired as athletic director and coach at Alma High School in Alma, Michigan.[3] He resigned from that post two years later.[4][5] Gill coached football at Southwestern High School in Detroit for two seasons, 1926 and 1927, before returning to his alma mater—then called Western State Teachers College—as coach of freshman sports in 1928.[6]

In 1939, Gill recommended that the Western Michigan athletic teams change their mascot from "Hilltoppers" to "Broncos," and his suggestion was adopted by the school.[7][8] Gill was awarded $10 for submitting the team's nickname, funds which he donated to the Waldo Stadium building fund.[8] In 1952, Gill was appointed as the associate athletic director at Western Michigan.[9] He continued to serve in that capacity until his retirement in 1969.[8]

Gill died on March 4, 1997.[1]

Head coaching record

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College football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Western Michigan Broncos (Independent) (1942–1946)
1942 Western Michigan 5–1
1943 Western Michigan 4–2
1944 Western Michigan 4–3
1945 Western Michigan 4–3
1946 Western Michigan 5–2–1
Western Michigan Broncos (Mid-American Conference) (1947–1952)
1947 Western Michigan 5–4 0–1 NA
1948 Western Michigan 6–3 3–1 T–2nd
1949 Western Michigan 4–4 2–3 4th
1950 Western Michigan 5–4 0–4 5th
1951 Western Michigan 4–4 0–4 6th
1952 Western Michigan 4–4 1–4 T–6th
Western Michigan: 50–34–1 6–16
Total: 50–34–1

[10][11]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Obituaries; & Funeral Notices; Gill, Mr. John W." Kalamazoo Gazette. Kalamazoo, Michigan. March 6, 1997. p. C6. Retrieved March 7, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  2. ^ "John Gill To Coach Western State Frosh". The Grand Rapids Press. Grand Rapids, Michigan. September 3, 1928. p. 11. Retrieved March 31, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  3. ^ "Lansing Athletes Coaches At Alma". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. September 15, 1924. p. 11. Retrieved March 31, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  4. ^ "Gill, Alma High Coach, Will take New Job". The Grand Rapids Press. Grand Rapids, Michigan. April 24, 1926. p. 19. Retrieved March 31, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  5. ^ "Johnny Gill Not To Remain At Alma". The Saginaw News. Saginaw, Michigan. April 25, 1926. p. 22. Retrieved March 31, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  6. ^ "Western Normal Takes John Gill". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. September 2, 1928. p. 20 part 1. Retrieved March 31, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  7. ^ "Western State Athletic Teams No Longer Will Be Called Hilltoppers; Select "Broncos" as New Name". Kalamazoo Gazette. Kalamazoo, Michigan. January 15, 1939. p. 17. Retrieved March 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  8. ^ a b c "Mascots". WMUBroncos.com. June 7, 2005. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012.
  9. ^ "Jack Petoskey Gets Bronco Grid Post". Toledo Blade. Toledo, Ohio. December 13, 1952. p. 10. Retrieved March 31, 2025 – via Google News.
  10. ^ "NCAA Statistics; Coach; John Gill; Football". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  11. ^ "Football Records: All-Time Coaches". Western Michigan University. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
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