John Potsklan

John Anthony Potsklan Jr. (September 24, 1920 – June 22, 1990) was an American football player and coach of football and basketball. He served as the head football coach at Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania from 1955 to 1984, compiling a record of 144–122–5. Potsklan also had three stints also the head men's basketball coach at Albright, in 1966–67, from 1968 to 1974, and 1980 to 1985, tallying a mark of 79–113.

John Potsklan
Biographical details
Born(1920-09-24)September 24, 1920
Hiller, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJune 22, 1990(1990-06-22) (aged 69)
Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1941Penn State
1946–1947Penn State
Position(s)End
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1953–1954Albright (assistant)
1955–1984Albright
Basketball
1966–1967Albright
1968–1974Albright
1980–1985Albright
Head coaching record
Overall144–122–5 (football)
79–113 (basketball)
Tournaments0–2 (NCAA D-III playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
7 MAC Northern Division (1959–1960, 1968, 1972, 1975–1977)

Early years, military service, and playing career

Potsklan was born in 1920 in Hiller, Pennsylvania. He attended Brownsville High School in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, where he played three sports.[1] He then played college football as an end for the Penn State Nittany Lions in 1941, 1946, and 1947.[2]

Potsklan's college career was interrupted by military service with a bomber squadron in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. He was shot down over Germany and was held in a German prisoner of war camp.[1]

Potsklan also served for a time with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League.[3]

Coaching career

Potsklan was an assistant coach at Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1953 and 1954. He took over as head coach in 1955.[3] He remained as head coach for 30 years. He led the 1960 Albright team to a perfect 9–0 record and followed that with a 7–0–1 record in 1961. He led Albright's football team to seven Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) North Division championships (1959, 1960, 1968, 1972, 1975, 1976, and 1977) and was named MAC coach of the year six times. He retired at the end of the 1984 season with a 144–122–5 record.[4][5] He also coached the Albright basketball team.[1]

Later years

Potsklan died in 1990 in Reading, Pennsylvania at age 69.[1]

Head coaching record

Football
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Albright Lions (Independent) (1955–1957)
1955 Albright 2–7
1956 Albright 2–7
1957 Albright 1–7–1
Albright Lions (Middle Atlantic Conference) (1958–1984)
1958 Albright 2–6–12–4–18th (College–Northern)
1959 Albright 7–36–11st (College–Northern)
1960 Albright 9–06–0T–1st (College–Northern)
1961 Albright 7–0–14–0–12nd (College–Northern)
1962 Albright 3–52–3T–5th (College–Northern)
1963 Albright 3–52–33rd (College–Northern)
1964 Albright 8–16–12nd (College–Northern)
1965 Albright 4–53–46th (College–Northern)
1966 Albright 4–54–4T–5th (College–Northern)
1967 Albright 5–44–35th (College–Northern)
1968 Albright 8–17–0T–1st (College–Northern)
1969 Albright 3–63–47th (College–Northern)
1970 Albright 4–54–22nd (Northern)
1971 Albright 3–5–13–3–12nd (Northern)
1972 Albright 8–17–02nd (Northern)
1973 Albright 5–55–33rd (Northern)
1974 Albright 6–34–23rd (Northern)
1975 Albright 8–26–01st (Northern)L NCAA Division III Quarterfinal
1976 Albright 8–26–01st (Northern)L NCAA Division III Quarterfinal
1977 Albright 7–25–1T–1st (Northern)
1978 Albright 3–63–3T–4th (Northern)
1979 Albright 3–63–4T–5th (Northern)
1980 Albright 5–44–3T–3rd (Northern)
1981 Albright 5–3–14–2–1T–3rd (Northern)
1982 Albright 3–62–56th (Northern)
1983 Albright 5–44–4T–5th
1984 Albright 3–62–67th
Albright: 144–122–5111–65–4
Total:144–122–5
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References
  1. "Former PSU grid star Potsklan dies at 69". Centre Daily Times. June 23, 1990. p. 3D – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "John Potsklan". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  3. "Name Potsklan Albright Coach". Courier-Post. May 26, 1955. p. 35.
  4. Steve Snyder (November 19, 1984). "Column". The Daily News. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Former football coach at Albright College dies; earned 9 titles in 29 years". The Morning Call. June 23, 1990. p. B30 – via Newspapers.com.
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