After graduating from Cody High School in Cody Wyoming John attended Chadron State college where he was a letter winner in football and wrestling, he also qualified for the national wrestling tournament. After graduating in 1972 he entered into the teaching/coaching profession at Tri-County High School. He has been there ever since. In his tenure heading up the Trojan program he has had 31 winning dual seasons, multiple tournament championships, six district titles, his teams have finished in the top 10 nine times including state runner up twice. John has coached 9 individual state champions among the 65 state medalists. He has coached 111 different wrestlers at the state tournament with a total of 205 qualifications. Many of the over 500 young men he has coached have gone on to wrestle at the next level, gain college degrees, or join the military most as United States Marines. He states that along with his wife Janet his most fulfilling times are attending weddings of former wrestlers and listening to the talk of their true “Glory Days”.