IU’s rose bowl coach John Pont dies

Former IU head football coach John Pont, who took the Hoosiers to their one and only Rose Bowl appearance in 1968, died Tuesday at his home in Oxford, Ohio. \n“Coach Pont was a classy, classy gentleman and passionate coach,” said Mark Deal, associate director of football operations. \nPont took over an IU football program in turmoil in 1965. IU athletics was fresh off of a four-year NCAA postseason ban stemming from football recruiting violations in 1958. The Hoosiers struggled early on in his tenure and went 2-8 in 1965 and 1-8-1 in 1966.\nHowever, in his third season, Coach Pont led the 1967 Hoosiers to a 9-2 record which included a victory in the Old Oaken Bucket game and a share of the Big Ten title. That magical season culminated in the first and only Rose Bowl appearance by the Hoosiers as they battled the USC Trojans. IU finished the season ranked fourth in the nation, and Pont was named NCAA National Coach of the Year.\nDuring his career Pont also served as head coach of Yale, Miami (Ohio), and Northwestern.\n“John Pont exemplified \nleadership and great success during his years as head football coach at Indiana University,” IU President Michael McRobbie said in a statement. “He was committed to ensuring the academic, as well as the athletic, success of his players and always represented his team and the university with class and professionalism. I was pleased that he could attend the ceremonies last year celebrating the IU Rose Bowl team. It was an honor for me to meet him. Indiana University mourns his passing and extends our condolences to his family.”\nDeal remembers Pont as a valued and passionate member of the IU family. Pont returned to Bloomington last fall for the Old Oaken Bucket game and participated in festivities and ceremonies celebrating the anniversary. Deal said Pont’s appearance was a highlight to a ‘”very special” weekend for IU football.\n“He was a great Indiana man, no question about it,” said Deal.