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ALUMNI STORIES: JOHN PEASE

JOHN PEASE

John Pease, a legend at Fullerton College, was one of the last players in college to be voted as an All-American for both offense and defense. He was a standout player on the Fullerton College football squad from 1961-62. He later came back to FC and worked as an assistant coach under the victorious Hal Sherbeck from 1970-75. After that he coached at Long Beach State 1974-76 and Utah in’77. He spent 1978-82 at Washington and led them to two Rose Bowls the Aloha Bowl, and the Sun Bowl. After crushing the competition in the PAC- 10 circuit, Pease started on a journey that led him to coaching in the pro football ranks.

Pease started under Coach Jim Mora with the Philadelphia-Baltimore Stars of the USFL in 1983. The team won two championships, and then folded. In 1986 he followed Mora to the NFL as the New Orleans Saint’s defensive line coach, and spent nine years (1986-95) in that position.

With the Saints, Pease directed formidable lines that were the foundation of defensive units that led the team to three playoff appearances in his final five years with the club.

Pease was the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2002. He has long been considered one of the NFL’s best defensive line coaches. While he coached with the Jaguars from 1995-2001, his units averaged over 42 sacks per season. Pease a 21-year coaching veteran in professional football, last coached with New Orleans in 2004-05. While coaching in the NFL Pease appeared in the playoffs eight times with the two teams.

After retiring from the NFL, Pease is still considered a legend in college, and professional football by many.