John Dale Wilcox (born March 15, 1938) is a former American football

defensive tackle A defensive tackle (DT) is a position in American football that will typically line up on the line of scrimmage, opposite one of the offensive guards, however he may also line up opposite one of the tackles. Defensive tackles are typically the la ...

for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Growing up

Wilcox won two state titles with Vale High School. He first went to Boise Junior College (now Boise State University) before transferring to the University of Oregon in Eugene to play for the Webfoots. Wilcox led the Webfoots (now Ducks) to the

1958 Rose Bowl The 1958 Rose Bowl was the 44th edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Wednesday, January 1. The heavily-favored Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big Ten Conference defeated the Oregon Webfoots o ...

, which they lost 10–7. He graduated from Oregon in 1959.

Playing career

Wilcox was small for a defensive end, drafted late by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1960. He played 12 games while the Eagles won the NFL title that year. Rather than return to the team, Wilcox decided to retire, citing the small salary ($7,500) and the toil it might have taken on his body.

Later life

With the money he earned from playing football, he bought a house. He originally wanted to enter the military draft, but he decided to instead be a teacher and coach, in part due to deferments offered by the President for math and science teachers. After a few stints at high schools in Portland and Boise, he arrived at Whitman College in 1967. He served as an assistant coach at Whitman College from 1967 to 1975, as they won a share of the conference title. He also served as the men's basketball coach during the 1970s and the women's basketball coach during the 1980s, leading the girls to five playoff appearances, a conference title and 178 wins. He was inducted into the Whitman Hall of Fame.

Personal life

He has been married to Remy Barnes for over 50 years and has three children and seven grandkids. He is the brother of Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee

Dave Wilcox David Wilcox (born September 29, 1942) is a retired professional football player, a linebacker with the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League from 1964 through 1974. Wilcox was selected to play for seven Pro Bowls and was named Al ...

and uncle of NFL player

Josh Wilcox Joshua David Wilcox (born June 5, 1974) is a former American football tight end who played two seasons with the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Oregon and attended Junction Hig ...

and California head coach Justin Wilcox.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilcox, John 1938 births Living people Philadelphia Eagles players Oregon Ducks football players People from Vale, Oregon Boise State Broncos football players Whitman Fighting Missionaries football coaches Whitman Blues men's basketball coaches Players of American football from Oregon American football defensive tackles American men's basketball coaches American women's basketball coaches Basketball coaches from Oregon