Maury John

Maury John (1919-1974)

Teams coached: Drake Bulldogs, Iowa State Cyclones
Drake record: 211-131 (.617)
Iowa State record: 32-25 (.561)
Overall record^: 243-156 (.609)

Career Accomplishments:

  • NCAA National Championships:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  3  (1969, 1970, 1971)
  • NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen:  3  (1969, 1970, 1971)
  • NCAA Tournament Final Four:  1  (1969)
  • NIT Championships:  0
  • NIT Appearances:  1  (1964)
  • Missouri Valley Regular Season Champion:  4  (1964, 1969, 1970, 1971)
  • NJCAA National Championships:  2  (1954, 1955)

Awards:

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1971-1974 Iowa State
1958-1971 Drake
1946-1958 Moberly JC

Maury John Facts

  • Maurice E. John
  • Born June 17, 1919
  • Died October 15, 1974
  • Hometown: Sweet Springs, Missouri
  • Alma Mater: Central Missouri State College (BA, 1941) / University of Missouri (MA, 1943)
  • Started his career at Union HS (MO), spending one year there before joining the Air Force during World War II
  • Upon returning to the States in 1946, he became the head coach at Moberly JC (MO)
    • Coached the Greyhounds for 12 seasons, winning back-to-back NJCAA national titles (1954 & 1955)
    • Now Moberly Area CC, the school built “Fitzsimmons-John Arena” honoring him and successor Cotton Fitzsimmons
  • Hired in 1958 to be the head coach at Drake, leading the Bulldogs for thirteen seasons
    • After building up into a MVC contender, the Bulldog’s burst onto the national stage in 1969 when they went 26-5 and reached the first (and still only) NCAA Final Four in school history
    • Nearly upset UCLA in the 1969 Final Four, cutting the Bruins’ lead to just one point in the final minute
    • Won three straight MVC titles, going to the Elite Eight or further in each of those three seasons
  • Left Drake for Iowa State in 1971, citing an opportunity to further his career and play in an on-campus arena
    • Inherited a team that went 5-21 the previous season, getting the Cyclones to 16-10 in year two
    • Diagnosed with an inoperable tumor in October 1973, leaving the team after a 4-1 start
  • Passed away the following October at age 55; survived by his wife, Jean, and their two sons

Maury John Coaching Tree

  • Gus Guydon (Drake)
  • Paul Lambert (Southern Illinois, Hardin-Simmons, Pittsburg State)
  • Willie McCarter (Detroit Mercy)

 

^ overall record includes head coaching positions at the NCAA Division I level only