John "Jake" Nevin (ca. 1910 - December 10, 1985) served as an athletic trainer for

Villanova University Villanova University is a Private university, private Catholic church, Roman Catholic research university in Villanova, Pennsylvania. It was founded by the Order of Saint Augustine, Augustinians in 1842 and named after Thomas of Villanova, Sa ...

athletic teams for over 50 years until his death in 1985. Nevin, then using a wheelchair and suffering from

Lou Gehrig's disease Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that results in the progressive loss of motor neurons that control voluntary muscles. ALS is the most com ...

, inspired the 1985

Villanova Wildcats The Villanova Wildcats are the athletic teams of Villanova University. They compete in the Big East (NCAA Division I) for every sport; except football and rowing where they compete in the Colonial Athletic Association (Football Championship Sub ...

basketball team during their run to the NCAA Championship. In 1985, Villanova renamed the

Villanova Field House The Jake Nevin Field House (originally known as the Villanova Field House) is an arena located at Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania. The arena, built in 1932, is the former home of the Villanova men's basketball program prior to the ...

in honor of Nevin. Villanova also retired basketball jersey number 1 for Nevin.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nevin, Jake People from Pennsylvania 1985 deaths Year of birth uncertain Athletic trainers