John Pierce
Assistant Football Coach - Running Backs
John Pierce enters his 24th year as a member of the Gorillas' coaching staff and his 15th 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.
On December 13, 2007, he assumed Pitt State's Recruiting Coordinator role, in addition to his responsibilities as running backs coach.
The Pitt State offense has ranked among the top 10 teams nationally in rushing offense in 10 of the last 12 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 has 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). The Gorillas also ranked fifth nationally in net punting (38.3 ypp) in 2010.
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 Pitt State 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 19 All-Conference players and six 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, 26, Timothy, 24, Cody, 20, and Randi, 17. Nikki married Andrew Webster on May 24, 2008. The couple have a daughter, Ella, who turned one on June 28.
The Pierces reside in Girard, Kan.