John Gregory (2003) - Hall of Fame

John Gregory

Induction:
2003

Though John Gregory has an impressive list of football achievements in his history, he may best be known for developing NFL Player of the Year Kurt Warner into the quarterback he became to be.

Gregory got his start at Webster City (Iowa) High School where he competed in football, basketball, baseball and track, earning 11 total letters. He played on two undefeated football teams, was selected captain and Most Valuable Player his senior year, and was named to the Elite First Team All-State Team. He went on to play here for Iowa State Teachers College where he was a three-year letterman. He was a member of the 1959 and 1960 North Central Conference Championship teams and played in the Mineral Bowl in 1960. He graduated in 1961 with a bachelor's degree in physical education with a minor in science and then received his master's in physical education from Mankato State University. Upon completing his education, he was named an assistant football, basketball and track coach at Fort Dodge (Iowa) High School and then was named head football coach and assistant in basketball and track at Lake City (Iowa) High School.

He moved up to become athletic director and assistant football coach at Iowa Central Community College from 1967-70, compiling a 24-3-1 record. He recruited John Matusak, who was the No. 1 selection in the 1974 NFL Draft. He was the defensive coordinator at South Dakota State from 1970-71 and was promoted to head coach in 1971, a position he held until 1981. He took SDSU to its first playoff appearance in 1979 and then ranked second on the school's all-time win list.

Gregory was UNI's offensive coordinator from 1981-82, and then served as the offensive line coach for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League from 1983-87. He was named head coach and director of football operations for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders in 1987, where he stayed until 1991. His team won the 1989 Grey Cup when he was selected the CFL Coach of the Year. He was the head coach and general manager of the Hamilton Tiger Cats from 1991-95. The Cats advanced to the playoffs four years and he was runner-up for the CFL Coach of the Year in 1991.

After coaching in Canada, Gregory was named head coach and director of football operations for the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena League. The Barnstormers competed in five division championships in six years and participated in two Arena Bowls in 1996-97. He compiled a record of 61-32 in Des Moines. He recruited and developed Warner and Aaron Garcia into top quarterbacks in the AFL and was selected Coach of the Year in 1995 and 1996 while placing second in 1997. Following his stay in Des Moines, the team moved to Long Island, N.Y., and became the New York Dragons. The Dragons advanced to the playoffs in 2000 and Gregory retired from coaching not long after.

Gregory was inducted into the Rough Riders Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Webster City High School Hall of Fame in 1994.