About John F. Wiley
Lived 1920 – 2013 (aged 92). John F. Wiley was an American american football player.
John Franklin "Smiling Jack" Wiley (April 18, 1920 – March 25, 2013) was an American football player and coach. He played professionally a tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1946 to 1950. Willey served as the head football coach at his alma mater, Waynesburg College—now known as Waynesburg University—in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, from 1951 to 1954, compiling a record of 22–9–1.
Playing career and miltitary service Wiley played college football as a tackle at Waynesburg College—now known as Waynesburg University—in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania and appeared in the 1939 Waynesburg vs. Fordham football game, the first televised American football game. His three older brothers—Robert, Asa, and Bill—also played football as Waynesburg. The youngest Wiley brother graduated from Waynesburg in 1941. He served in the United States Army during World War II, attaining the rank of captain.
Coaching career Wiley was the head football coach at his alma mater, Waynesburg, for four seasons, from 1951 to 1954, compiling a record of 22–9–1.
Wiley left Waynesburg to become an assistant at Pitt, where he is credited with recruiting Mike Ditka and Marty Schottenheimer.
Late life and death Waynesburg left coaching in 1961 to become a salesman and later regional manager for the L.G. Balfour Jewelry & Taylor Publishing Company. He died on March 25, 2013, in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Head coaching record
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Important facts
People in John F. Wiley's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John F. Wiley's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John F. Wiley?
American football player and coach (1920-2013)
When was John F. Wiley born?
John F. Wiley was born on 18 April 1920 in Greene County.
When did John F. Wiley die?
John F. Wiley died on 25 March 2013 in York County.
What was John F. Wiley's occupation?
John F. Wiley was an american football player.
What nationality was John F. Wiley?
John F. Wiley was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John F. Wiley. https://biography.guide/john-f-wiley/
MLA: "John F. Wiley." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-f-wiley/.
Chicago: "John F. Wiley." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-f-wiley/.
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