John Pearce

John Pearce (born January 13, 1947) is an American former football coach. He served as the head football coach at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas from 1992 to 1998, compiling a record of 46–32–2. After leaving his position at Stephen F. Austin, he was an assistant coach at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Rice University.

High school and college In his high school senior season of 1964 for the Sulphur Springs Wildcats, Pearce was an all-district and honorable mention all-state linebacker selection. In 2011, the Sulphur Springs New-Telegram celebrated 100 years of Wildcat football by picking the All-Century team for Sulphur Springs 1974 High School. Pearce was a member of that elite team as the best in Sulphur Springs football history and was honored as a player on the Wildcat Hall of Honor in 1996.

In 1965, Pearce received a football scholarship to Texas A&M University. He attended Texas A&M for two years, lettering on the freshman team, before transferring and finishing playing career at East Texas State University in 1968.

Coaching career

High school In his first coaching job, from 1970 through 1973, Pearce served as an assistant football coach at Waco Connally High School. Then, he served as the assistant football coach at Kilgore High School.

College Pearce started his college coaching career in 1989 as an assistant at Texas A&M University where he coached the tight ends, punters, kickers, and running backs. Working under legendary coach R. C. Slocum, All three teams were nationally ranked each season.

In December 1991, Pearce received the head coaching job at Stephen F. Austin State University. The Lumberjacks, coached by Pearce, had a 46-32-2 record in seven seasons. After a rebuilding year in 1992, the next five years were record-setting. Of 118 1-AA universities, Pearce was the only head coach, in the official The Sports Network poll, to have his team ranked in the top 25 every week for five consecutive years (1993-1997).

In 1999, Pearce moved to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where he was an assistant coach for four seasons with three winning years and two bowl game appearances, the Sun Bowl and Las Vegas Bowl. After two years as a defensive coach, Pearce moved to coaching quarterbacks. Pearce started his writing career.

Head coaching record

Authorship In 2014, Pearce became a published author with his book "Ever Remember the Days of 1913-14". He also is an historical researcher on his family and author in many areas including a self-published book, Sulphur Springs football's "Pride of the Blue and Gold". Pearce has had numerous short stories published and has been called the official "Wildcat Historian" for Sulphur Springs High School football by the Sulphur Springs Daily News Telegram. His crowning authorship was a book titled "A Private in the Texas Army" following his Dad's war years experience published in 2022.

Personal life John married Jaime McKinney on June 29, 1968, and they had two children, Amy Elizabeth born in 1969 and Michael Frank born in 1973. Pearce has noted his most exciting time in coaching was having his record-setting son Mike Pearce on his SFA teams (1992–96) and watching him receive All-American recognition as a receiver in 1996.

Pearce retired to Sugar Land in 2003. After retirement, he and Jaime returned to Texas from California and built a home in Sugar Land. In retirement he had noted he wanted to be a "soccer mom" for his grandchildren. He accomplished this goal as his four granddaughters grew up. He and the love of his life Jaime have been married over 50 years and enjoy spending ever minute together 24/7.