 Mortensen,c. 1951 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1907-04-16)April 16, 1907 Thatcher, Arizona, U.S. |
| Died | February 19, 1962(1962-02-19) (aged 54) Riverside, California, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1928–1929 | USC |
| Basketball | |
| 1928–1930 | USC |
| Track and field | |
| 1928–1930 | USC |
| Positions | Halfback (football) Center (basketball) Javelin throw,decathlon (track and field) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1930–1942 | Riverside |
| 1946–1947 | Riverside |
| 1951–1955 | USC (assistant) |
| Track and field | |
| 1948–1950 | Denver |
| 1950–1951 | Army |
| 1951–1961 | USC |
| 1956 | US Olympic team (assistant) |
| Baseball | |
| 1931 | Riverside |
| 1946 | Riverside |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 11–13 (junior college baseball) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| Track and field NCAA javelin (1929) 7 NCAA (as head coach) | |
| Awards | |
| 2× All-PCC basketball (1928, 1930) National Track and Field Hall of Fame (1992 ) U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Coaches Hall of Fame (1996 ) USC Athletics Hall of Fame (1997) | |
Jesse Philo Mortensen (April 16, 1907 — February 19, 1962) was anNCAA championtrack athlete and coach. Mortensen is one of only three men to win Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship team titles as both an athlete and coach.
Mortensen enrolled at theUniversity of Southern California (USC) in 1928. While at USC, he won eightvarsity letters, three each inbasketball and track and field and two infootball.[1] In basketball, he was selected as anAll-Pacific Coast Conference player in 1928 and 1930. In football, he played at the left halfback position and was a member of the1929 USC Trojans football team that defeatedPittsburgh in the1930 Rose Bowl.[1] In track and field, Mortensen was captain of the 1930NCAA championship track team. He won the 1929 NCAA javelin title and set a world record in the decathlon in 1931.
After graduating from USC, Mortensen held coaching positions atRiverside Junior College, with theUnited States Navy duringWorld War II, and after the war at theUniversity of Denver and theUnited States Military Academy.[2] He returned to become coach of the USCtrack and field team in 1951. He led theUSC Trojans to seven NCAA titles in his 11 years as coach (1951–1961). His teams never lost a dual meet (64-0) and never finished worse than second in the conference meet. He was an assistant U.S. men's track coach in the1956 Olympics. He also served as an assistant football coach at USC from 1951 to 1955. He coached track at theUniversity of Denver and theUnited States Military Academy.
Mortensen died on 19 February 1962, at Good Samaritan Hospital.[3]
Mortensen is a member of the University of Southern California Athletic Hall of Fame,[4] theNational Track and Field Hall of Fame[5] and theU.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association[6] Hall of Fame.[7]
Mortensen was a member ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[8]
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