| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1923-05-04)May 4, 1923 Nantucket, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | September 23, 2014(2014-09-23) (aged 91) Savannah, Georgia, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1947–1948 | Boston University |
| Position | Quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| early 1950s | Boston University (assistant) |
| 1954–1956 | New Britain HS (CT) |
| 1957–1965 | Columbia (backfield) |
| 1966–1970 | Connecticut |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1969–1987 | Connecticut |
| 1983–1985 | NCAA (president) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 20–24–3 (college) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 2Yankee (1968, 1970) | |
| Awards | |
| NFF Distinguished American Award (1986) | |
John L. Toner (May 4, 1923 – September 23, 2014) was an Americanfootball player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at theUniversity of Connecticut (UConn) from 1966 to 1970 and as the school'sathletic director from 1969 to 1987. During his 18-year tenure as athletic director Toner also served in several roles with theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), including as its president from 1983 to 1985. Toner was responsible for several momentous decisions in his time as athletic director at UConn, including UConn becoming a founding member of theBig East Conference in 1979, as well as the hiring of futureHall of Fame coachesGeno Auriemma andJim Calhoun. He also oversaw the funding and construction ofGampel Pavilion.
Toner was born in 1923 inNantucket, Massachusetts.[1][2] He died at the age of 91 in 2014.
Toner became UConn's 21st head football coach in 1966.[3] after having been the head football coach atNew Britain High School in New Britain, CT. In five seasons under Toner the Huskies compiled a 20–24–3 record.[4] Toner resigned as football coach at the end of the 1970 season to concentrate on his position as athletic director.[5]
Toner became UConn'sathletic director in 1969, continuing a tradition of elevating someone from the football program to that position.[5] He served in that position for 17 years until he resigned in 1987 except to oversee the construction ofGampel Pavilion.[6]
Toner was first approached about Connecticut becoming a founding member of theBig East Conference in May 1979, but was uncertain. On May 26, UConn was given a 24-hour deadline to decide whether they would join. Toner, unable to reach the university president, unilaterally accepted the invitation.[7]
Toner served as president of theNCAA from 1983 to 1985. During his tenure, he was involved in implementingTitle IX in collegiate athletics, splitting college football into DivisionsI-A andI-AA, and passing new freshman eligibility rules.[8] He also was involved inHerschel Walker's leaving college early to join theUnited States Football League.[9]
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut Huskies(Yankee Conference)(1966–1970) | |||||||||
| 1966 | Connecticut | 2–6–1 | 2–2–1 | 3rd | |||||
| 1967 | Connecticut | 5–4 | 4–1 | 2nd | |||||
| 1968 | Connecticut | 4–6 | 4–1 | T–1st | |||||
| 1969 | Connecticut | 5–4 | 3–2 | T–2nd | |||||
| 1970 | Connecticut | 4–4–2 | 4–0–1 | 1st | |||||
| Connecticut: | 20–24–3 | 13–8–1 | |||||||
| Total: | 20–24–3 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||