JOHN PFITSCH

Assistant Coach, 1946-47

Men's soccer--John Pfitsch, head coach at Grinnell for the past 24 seasons 1974-97), announced his retirement. He compiled a 191-118-24 record during his tenure at Grinnell, where he also has served as basketball coach and athletics director.

John Pfitsch, whose name has been synonymous with Grinnell athletics since 1948, takes length-of-service honors hands-down. Brought to Grinnell primarily as a basketball mentor, John has coached or substituted in virtually every spot during a 47-year career. In "retirement" he still directs the men's soccer program. One of many highlights for Pfitsch came at the 1989 conference soccer playoffs. His Pioneers won two shutouts and took the championship on his 70th birthday anniversary. In 21 soccer seasons Pfitsch-coached teams have won four league titles and finished runner-up seven times while posting a 163-92-23 overall record. Most memorable in 25 seasons of basketball coaching in the 1961-62 campaign in which the Pfitschmen won the championship with a 16-2 record. John also had a champion tennis team and coached baseball when it was revived in 1957. Pfitsch is justifiably proud of his role in instituting women's sports during his long tenure as athletic director. Born in Miraj, India, where is fath e r was a medical missionary, John at age 4 became a Texan and later a four-sport 110-pound athlete at Pflugerville. After graduating from the University of Texas, Pfitsch earned his M.A. in physical education and assisted famous Coach Phog Allen at the University of Kansas before and after service in World War II. At Grinnell he helped get a $2.2 million federal loan and headed the planning committee for construction of the Physical Education Complex. The fieldhouse section is named is named in his honor. Interesting Pfitsch facts are legion, i.e.: He has served under seven Grinnell presidents; he has coached I Portugal and Panama on sabbaticals; an avid golfer, he held the Grinnell Country Club course record of 31 years for many years. To call Pfitsch a "colorful character" is an understatement but he is serious about some things. The walls of Pfitsch's office are covered with photos of teams and players. He's proud to give a litany of the players and their current professions-doctors, lawyers, busines smen, teachers, scholars, coaches, etc. "I've been a very lucky person all my life. One of the big pluses has been my Grinnell experience and the relationships with the thousands of student-athletes I have coached," he says. He feels that he has been educated by the young people he sought to educate.

In the entrance way by the lockers John Pfitsch, the legendary coach, had a table set up to sell copies of his book (Pfitsch Tales: 50 Years of Grinnell College Athletics). Ed Bauers came in and sat with him. Their names were familiar to me through my Dad, whom they remembered, and we chatted a bit about old times. The Class Clown had complained generally about alumni bringing their spouses and worse, kids, to the reunion, but he probably wouldn't have minded if I brought my father. It would have been superb to hear those old guys shoot the breeze.

Ed Bauers and John Pfitsch

Pfitsch Tales: 50 Years of Grinnell College Athletics is now available through the Grinnell College Bookstore. The book recounts 50 years of Grinnell athletic history as told by Coach John Pfitsch for $24.95 by calling 641-269-3424. (12 December 2003)