John Pierce
Running Backs

    John Pierce enters his 20th year as a member of the Gorillas' coaching staff and his 11th year since returning to Pittsburg State from the prep ranks.
    Pierce returned to his alma mater in 1997, after a two-year absence in which he was head football coach at nearby Columbus Unified High School.
    The Pitt State offense has ranked among the top seven teams nationally in rushing offense in seven of the last eight years with the 2004 squad setting the all-time NCAA all division record with 5,320 yards. Former All-American tailback Germaine Race also shattered the all-time NCAA all division scoring record (634 pts.) and the all-time NCAA-II rushing record (6,985 yds.) during the 2006 season.
    Pierce also handles PSU's kickoff return and punt coverage teams. In 2001, PSU ranked fifth nationally in kickoff returns (25.0 ypr) and seventh in net punting (38.1 ypp).
    Pierce previously served as a part-time assistant on the PSU coaching staff from 1989-94 and was responsible for running backs ('89-91) and then wide receivers and special teams ('92-94).
    A native of Manhattan, Kan., Pierce was a three-year letterwinner ('77-79) on the Gorilla football team. He then served as a student assistant coach at PSU from 1980-82 while earning both his bachelor's and master's degrees in physical education from PSU.
    During his tenure on the Pitt State staff, Pierce has coached 16 All-Conference players and five All-Americans.
John is married to the former Sunny York of Lawton, Kan. Sunny is a member of PSU’s Athletics Hall of Fame as a former women's basketball player.
    The couple have four children: Nikki, 22, Timothy, 20, Cody, 16, and Randi, 13. The Pierces reside in Girard, Kan.