John P. Metras

John Pius Metras (April 8, 1909 – April 13, 1982) was an American coach of Canadian football and basketball. He led Western Mustangs football from 1940 to 1969, winning 110 games, eight Yates Cups, and three Churchill Bowls. He coached 157 players who graduated to play in the Canadian Football League, including his son John. Metras was the first college coach inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, and is honored by the annual J. P. Metras Trophy for the outstanding U Sports lineman. Prior to coaching the Mustangs, he was a player-coach for St. Michael's College, and was named an all-American as captain of the Detroit Titans.

As the athletic director at University of Western Ontario from 1945 to 1972, Metras also coached basketball and ice hockey. His straightforward and gruff demeanor earned him the nickname, "The Bull". Never having a losing basketball season in 19 years, his teams won 14 Ontario-Quebec Athletic Association championships, won 134 of 164 league games, and were the first university team to compete in the Canadian Olympic team trials. He was posthumously inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

Early life and playing career John Pius Metras was born April 8, 1909, in Berrien County, Michigan, and grew up in Dowagiac, Michigan. He was a four-sport athlete in high school and an all-state halfback. After graduating from Dowagiac High School, he played football and basketball at Western State Teachers College. Originally playing left tackle, Metras was captain of the Detroit Titans in 1932, when he was named an all-American playing center. After graduation from University of Detroit, he tried out for the Detroit Lions.

Metras came to Canada with teammate Bill Storen in 1933, to play in the senior Ontario Rugby Football Union division for St. Michael's College. The Canadian Press named him an Eastern Canada second-team all-star at centre in 1933, and an Eastern Canada first-team all-star at centre in 1934. At the end of his playing career, he was and . 110 wins, 77 losses, 11 ties. and were Churchill Bowl champions versus the UBC Thunderbirds in 1956, 1957, and 1959. He coached 157 players who graduated to play in the Canadian Football League. Metras felt that Joe Krol was the most well-rounded athlete he had coached.

In addition to football, Metras coached the Western Mustangs basketball team from 1945 to 1964, and was a member of the US–Canada basketball rules committee. His basketball team played annual home-and-home exhibition games versus Assumption College in Windsor. He regularly recruited athletes from the Windsor Area which had no university football, and limited academic options at the time.

Metras stressed fundamentals while coaching, and did not place winning above an education. He opposed athletic scholarships since the money came from donors who prioritized winning over education. As of 1969, Metras was the only remaining person in the Ontario-Quebec Athletic Association to have the combined roles of athletic director and head coach of football. He felt the workload too much to do justice to both positions.

Metras was a recreational golfer, and played 36 holes of golf hours before his death.

Honors and legacy In 1969, Metras was the first recipient of the Canadian College Bowl award for outstanding contribution to college football. In 1970, he was one of the two inaugural recipients of the merit award from the National Association of Basketball Coaches of Canada.

The straightforward and gruff demeanor of Metras earned him the nickname, "The Bull". He was posthumously inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002,