John Joseph Idzik Sr. (June 25, 1928 – December 7, 2013) was an American football player and coach. He was the head coach of the University of Detroit football team until the school discontinued its program in 1964. He held assistant coaching positions at the University of Tennessee, University of Maryland, Tulane University, in the National Football League (NFL) with the Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, and in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Ottawa Rough Riders. Idzik played college football at the University of Maryland.
Early life and college Idzik, a native of Bridesburg in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, attended Northeast Catholic High School, where the Philadelphia Daily News described him as "one of this city's top high school football players". After the 1945 season, he was selected as a first team All-Scholastic back by the Philadelphia Bulletin which honored the best high school players in the five-county area in and around Philadelphia. He was also voted to the Coaches All-Catholic League team in 1944 (2nd team) and 1945 (1st team). Idzik was also the catcher for North Catholic's City Championship baseball team of 1945. After graduating high school in 1946, he enrolled at the University of Maryland in 1947. Idzik played on the football team and was a four-year letterman as a back from 1947 to 1950. Idzik was also invited to play for the South squad in the third annual Mahi Shrine North-South College All-Star Football Classic, a charity game held on Christmas night at Orange Bowl Stadium in Miami.NORTH-SOUTH TEST TO ATTRACT 40,000; Teams Rated Evenly Matched for Mahi Shrine Charity Game in Miami Tonight; Lucia in the Backfield Wealth of Line Stars, The New York Times, December 25, 1950. The 1951 yearbook, The Terrapin, described Idzik as a "backfield bulwark who was demon on defense—Could have starred on offense but was defensive necessity. Saved more touchdowns than most backs scored"The Terrapin, p. 277, University of Maryland year book, 1951. He also played varsity baseball for the University of Maryland. He was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.The Terrapin, p. 146, University of Maryland year book, 1951. Idzik graduated from Maryland in 1951 and went on to serve in the United States Marine Corps from 1951 to 1953.
Coaching career In 1954, the University of Tennessee hired Idzik as an assistant football coach for its freshman team.Idzik To Coach For Tennessee, The Baltimore Sun, January 31, 1954. Having played college football under Jim Tatum, Idzik was the split-T expert on the Tennessee staff. He resigned in February 1955 to take a job with the Ottawa Rough Riders in the Canadian Football League.Tennessee Grid Aid Joins Ottawa Club , The Milwaukee Sentinel, February 22, 1955.
At Ottawa, he served as the backfield and top assistant coach under head coach Chan Caldwell. The two personalities clashed however, which resulted in Idzik's dismissal midseason in October.John Idzik Released By Rough Riders In "Best Interests" of Football Club, Ottawa Citizen, October 4, 1955. The disagreements, over play-calling and which players to dress, began after the first preseason game in early August and resulted in three meetings between the parties and the club management, the last of which was called at the request of the team's players. Idzik accepted payment of a year's salary of $7,000 upon his termination.Scarbath, Bailey To Alternate; Caldwell Plans Offense Change, The Montreal Gazette, October 7, 1955.
In January 1956, Idzik was hired as the line coach at his alma mater, to work under Tommy Mont, who had been promoted to head coach after Jim Tatum's departure., Chicago Daily Tribune, January 29, 1956. He served in that capacity for three seasons.2007 Terrapin Football Record Book (PDF), p. 4, University of Maryland, 2007.
Detroit After Maryland, Idzik moved on to take an assistant coaching position at the University of Detroit. He worked as backfield coach under Jim Miller for three seasons, until promoted to head coach in 1962.DETROIT NAMES IDZIK; Ex-Aide Replaces Miller as Head Football Coach, The New York Times, January 25, 1962. He replaced Miller who had resigned to take over at Boston College.Idzik New Head Coach at Detroit , The Milwaukee Sentinel, January 25, 1962. As head coach, Detroit failed to achieve a winning season and Idzik amassed a record of 6–21–1.John Idzik Records By Year , College Football Data Warehouse, retrieved August 8, 2010.
At the time of his hiring, Detroit indicated that it might discontinue its football program if its gate receipts did not improve.Detroit U Picks Idzik Grid Head, Prescott Evening Courier, January 25, 1962. After the 1964 season, the university terminated its sponsorship of the sport. Idzik sued the school for $15,000 in a breach of contract suit. Half of the requested amount consisted was for "services rendered" and the other half for damages.School Sued By Football Coach, Beaver County Times, May 27, 1965. In July 1965, Idzik and the University of Detroit came to an agreement under which he was awarded $1,400.Idzik Awarded $1,400 In Coaching Suit , The Baltimore Sun, July 23, 1965.
He was then hired as the chief offensive coach at Tulane University.Tulane Coach Resigns After 62–0 Trouncing, Reading Eagle, November 25, 1965. Idzik was considered a candidate for the Tulane head coach post after Tommy O'Boyle resigned, but the job ultimately went to Jim Pittman.
NFL assistant coach Idzik then moved on to the National Football League, where he joined the staff of the Miami Dolphins as its backfield coach., The Miami News, August 9, 1966. He convinced the staff to select halfback Jim Kiick in the 1969 NFL/AFL draft. In contrast to some of the other staff members earlier assessments, Idzik said, "He's not slow. He has got good speed and power and balance and a good head on his shoulders.", The Miami News, October 7, 1968. In 1967, Idzik was a frontrunner for the vacant head coaching job at his alma mater, which went instead to fellow alumnus Bob Ward.BOB WARD TALKS WITH MD. TODAY; Camp, Idzik Also On List Of Candidates For Grid Post , The Baltimore Sun, December 20, 1966.
In 1970, he was hired by the Baltimore Colts as its offensive backfield coach.Colts Assimilate More Plays For Attack, Defense , The Baltimore Sun, August 18, 1970. He was on the staff that guided Baltimore to win Super Bowl V after the 1970 season. On December 20, 1972, Colts general manager Joe Thomas, who wanted "a new approach, a new look," dismissed the entire coaching staff including Idzik and interim head coach John Sandusky.Colts Coaches Out of Work, The Victoria Advocate, December 20, 1972.
Idzik and Sandusky were subsequently hired as assistants by the Philadelphia Eagles in January 1973., Tri City Herald, January 30, 1973. After the Eagles posted a 4–10 record in 1976, Idzik resigned as offensive coordinator, as did defensive coordinator John Mazur.Eagle aides Mazur and Idzik resign, The Free Lance-Star, December 23, 1976.
The New York Jets hired both Idzik and Mazur in February 1977., Anchorage Daily News, February 8, 1977. With the Jets, he was responsible for the development of quarterbacks Richard Todd and Matt Robinson.Allen's chances rated slim for Giants' coaching post, The Free Lance-Star, December 20, 1978. As part of the New York staff, Idzik coached as the offensive coordinator in the 1978 Senior Bowl.Jets' staff in Senior Bowl, St. Petersburg Times, December 21, 1978. In 1978, Idzik expressed an interest in the vacant head coaching position with the New York Giants,Giants: No Rush On Coach; Hard Man to Persuade Giants to Wait at Least 3 Weeks Before Picking Their New Coach How Much Power Demanded? Tough on Field, Kind Off It Other Coaches Interested In Job, The New York Times, December 20, 1978. but he did not receive the job.
Idzik resigned from the Jets after the 1979 season. The Associated Press reported that he did not get along with head coach Walt Michaels, and that he favored embattled quarterback Richard Todd over back-up Matt Robinson.Two Coaches Leave Jets, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, December 23, 1979. He returned to the Baltimore Colts for the 1980 season., The Palm Beach Post, October 24, 1980. In 1982, Frank Kush took over as head coach and dismissed the entire staff.Stadler Up By 7 Shots, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, January 10, 1982.
After his coaching career, he and his wife lived in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. In 1990, he intended to return from retirement to become head coach of the Rome franchise of the new International League of American Football,IDZIK'S 'RETIREMENT'ISN'T QUITE WHAT HE ENVISIONED, Philadelphia Daily News, January 23, 1990. but the league folded before its first season.U.S.-BACKED INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOLDS, Associated Press, May 3, 1990.
Personal life His son, John Idzik, Jr., has held front office positions in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks,John Idzik , Seattle Seahawks, retrieved August 8, 2010. and also was the general manager of the New York Jets.
John Idzik served in the United States Marine Corps from 1951 to 1953.
Idzik died at his home in Chadds Ford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania on December 7, 2013.
Head coaching record
References