John Payne (American football)

John D. Payne (May 15, 1933 – May 18, 2019) was an American collegiate and professional football coach. He served as head coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders (1973–1976), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1978–1980) and Ottawa Rough Riders (1996) of the Canadian Football League (CFL), compiling a career record of 62–63–3. Payne also was the head football coach at Abilene Christian University from 1985 to 1990, posting a mark of 26–34–2.

John Payne
Biographical details
Born(1933-05-15)May 15, 1933
Wewoka, Oklahoma
DiedMay 18, 2019(2019-05-18) (aged 86)
Ardmore, Oklahoma
Alma materOklahoma State University
Playing career
1951–1954Oklahoma State
Position(s)Guard, center
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1966–1967BYU (OL)
1968–1969Edmonton Eskimos (OL)
1970Winnipeg Blue Bombers (assistant)
1971–1972Saskatchewan Roughriders (assistant)
1973–1976Saskatchewan Roughriders
1977Detroit Lions (OL)
1978–1980Hamilton Tiger-Cats
1981–1982TCU (OC)
1983–1984Arizona Wranglers (OL)
1985–1990Abilene Christian
1992Toronto Argonauts (OL)
1993Sacramento Gold Miners (OL)
1994BC Lions (OC)
1995Winnipeg Blue Bombers (DL)
1996London Monarchs (OL)
1996Ottawa Rough Riders (assistant)
1996Ottawa Rough Riders
1997Frankfurt Galaxy (OC)
1998New York CityHawks (OC)
Head coaching record
Overall62–63–3 (CFL)
26–34–2 (college)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1994 Grey Cup (assistant coach)

Coaching career

After serving as an assistant with Central High School [1] and BYU,[2] Payne moved to the Canadian Football League in 1968. He served as an assistant with the Edmonton Eskimos, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan Roughriders before becoming the Roughriders head coach in 1973.[3] In his four season as head coach, Payne had a 40–23–1 record and led Saskatchewan to the 1976 Grey Cup.

Payne left the Roughriders in 1977 and joined Tommy Hudspeth's coaching staff with the Detroit Lions. The entire staff was fired on January 9, 1978.[4] He returned to the CFL, replacing Tom Dimitroff as head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats five games into the 1978 season.[5] He had some success with Hamilton, compiling an 18–24–1 record over three seasons and leading the team to the 1980 Grey Cup. After the Tiger-Cats trouncing at the hands of the Edmonton Eskimo dynasty 48–10 in the Grey Cup game, owner Harold Ballard indicated that he preferred recently fired Arizona State football coach Frank Kush over Payne, which led to his resignation.[6]

After leaving the Hamilton TigerCats, Payne went to Texas Christian University, where he coached as the offensive line coach under head coach F.A. Dry from 1981-1983. He then moved to Chicago to coach with the USFL team, the Chicago Blitz under George Allen. Payne moved to Arizona when the Blitz franchise was moved and became the Arizona Wranglers. In 1985, Payne became head coach at Abilene Christian University located in Abilene, Texas. He was the Wildcats head coach for six seasons [7][8] and had a coaching record of 26–34–2.

Payne returned to the CFL in 1993 as the offensive line coach for the Sacramento Gold Miners.[9] In 1995, Norton Herrick, an Orlando, Florida real estate developer, announced plans to move the CFL's Las Vegas Posse to Jackson, Mississippi. Payne was to be the club's head coach, however plans fell through and the relocation did not take place; the team instead folded.[10] In 1996, Payne, then an assistant with the Ottawa Rough Riders, was promoted to head coach.[11] He coached the team to a 3–11 record; the team finished the year 3–15. The Rough Riders ceased operations after the season and Payne became the final coach in the 120-year history of the team.

On November 18, 1997, the New York CityHawks of the Arena Football League named Payne offensive coordinator.

Head coaching record

College
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Abilene Christian Wildcats (Lone Star Conference) (1985–1990)
1985 Abilene Christian 5–4–22–3T–4th
1986 Abilene Christian 7–34–2T–2nd
1987 Abilene Christian 5–62–3T–4th
1988 Abilene Christian 3–73–46th
1989 Abilene Christian 5–55–2T–2nd
1990 Abilene Christian 1–91–6T–6th
Abilene Christian: 26–34–217–20
Total:26–34–2

CFL
TeamYearRegular SeasonPost Season
WonLostTiesWin %FinishWonLostResult
SSK1973 1060.6252nd in West Division11Lost in West Final
SSK1974 970.5632nd in West Division11Lost in West Final
SSK1975 1051.6562nd in West Division11Lost in West Final
SSK1976 1150.6881st in West Division11Lost Grey Cup
HAM1978 5101.3443rd in East Division01Lost in East Semi-Final
HAM1979 6100.3753rd in East Division01Lost in East Semi-Final
HAM1980 871.5313rd in East Division11Lost Grey Cup
OTT1996 3130.188Last in East DivisionDid not qualify
Total 62633.4961 Division
Championship		57

References
  1. "Lions Hire Assistant". Ludington Daily News. 1977-02-19. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2009-06-23.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Coach Named". Spokane Daily Chronicle. 1972-12-21. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  4. "Hudspeth, staff ousted by Lions". St. Petersburg Times. 1978-01-10. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  5. "Tiger Cats Fire Head Coach". Toledo Blade. 1978-08-11. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  6. "Once-revered Kush starting all over". Toledo Blade. 1980-12-18. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  7. College Football Reference Archived 2010-10-31 at the Wayback Machine Abilene Christian University Football Records
  8. 2008 Wildcat Football (media guide) Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine ACU Record Book
  9. http://www.oursportscentral.com/cflinamerica/sac93ros.htm
  10. Murray, Ken (April 15, 1995). "Posse dispersal draft is set". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  11. "People in Sports". Eugene Register-Guard. 1996-07-05. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
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