John Cropp

John Williamson Cropp (born 1939) is an American former college and high school football coach and athletics administrator.

Early life, playing career, and military career Cropp was born in 1939 in Wolf Point, Montana. His father, Albert H. Cropp, was a missionary for the American Indians and was of German descent. Cropp's father's position caused their family to move all over the western half of the country, from Arizona, Oklahoma, and Huron, South Dakota, where his family lived for two years at the start of high school before moving a final time to Maryville, Tennessee, following Cropp's sophomore year. After his senior year, he was honored with the Wade-Looney Award, which goes to the Vanderbilt player who had the greatest improvement over their career.

Cropp graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1961 with a degree in geology, alongside earning his teaching certification to become a football coach following his graduation.

Following Cropp's discharge from the Army in early 1964, he began coaching as the head line coach for Southwest High School in Atlanta. After two seasons, he was hired as the head football coach for Tennessee High School, as he succeeded Fred Keller. Cropp's inaugural team finished with a 5–5 record. Alongside serving as the head football coach, Cropp also served as the school's athletic director during his tenure. After an undefeated state championship season, he turned down an offer to become an assistant football coach at his alma mater, Vanderbilt. He interviewed for the head coaching position at Austin Peay State University.

Cropp was eventually not chosen for the Austin Peay position, but was instead hired as the wide receivers and tight ends coach for his alma mater, Vanderbilt, under new head coach Steve Sloan Cropp followed Sloan again when Sloan was hired as the head coach for Ole Miss, but this time, Cropp was promoted to offensive coordinator. In 1983, Cropp followed Sloan for a final time, this time to Duke, where Cropp was initially demoted to just the offensive backfield coach before being promoted back to offensive coordinator.

After a combined 11 seasons alongside Sloan, Cropp resigned from Duke and returned to Vanderbilt as the offensive backfield coach. He was promoted to offensive coordinator before the 1985 season. He resigned after the season. He didn't coach for two years before returning to Vanderbilt in 1988 as an assistant athletic director. Before his return to Vanderbilt, Cropp applied for the head coaching vacancy at East Tennessee State, but was ultimately not hired.

Cropp returned to coaching in 1991 as the tight ends coach under Bill Curry at Kentucky. For the following two seasons, he served as the recruiting coordinator before retiring from coaching.

References and notes