Former Head Coach Joe Yukica Passes Away at 90

HANOVER, N.H. — Joe Yukica, who served as the head coach of the Dartmouth football team for nine seasons and won three Ivy League titles during his tenure, passed away last week at the age of 90.

The Big Green head coach from 1978-86, Yukica had immediate success, guiding Dartmouth to the conference crown in his very first season. He also coached the Bushnell Cup winner that year in veteran quarterback Buddy Teevens '79, who is the current Robert L. Blackman Head Football Coach of the Big Green. Yukica was named the Coach of the Year by the New England Football Writers and by the American Football Coaches Association for District I following his Dartmouth debut. He then added back-to-back titles in 1981 and '82 and finished his Dartmouth years with a record of 36-47-4 overall and 36-24-3 against the Ivy League.

Prior to his arrival in Hanover, Yukica was the head coach at Boston College for 10 seasons (1968-77), posting a winning record in nine of those campaigns, including a 9-2 mark in 1971 while winning eight games three other times. His record with the Eagles was a stellar 68-37 (.648), and he also served as the head coach for the East-West Shrine Classic and the Blue-Gray Classic during his tenure.

"Joe was a wonderful man and a terrific coach," Teevens said upon hearing the news of Yukica's passing. "He arrived my senior year and, having been at Boston College, energized the quality team we had and put us over the top with an Ivy League title. But more important was the effect he had on my life. He encouraged me to pursue a career in coaching and was always very supportive. I don't know where I'd be without his guidance. That was simply the man that he was — generous and supportive, with a terrific football mind as well."

Yukica was already familiar with Dartmouth when he took over as head coach, having served as an assistant for Bob Blackman from 1961-65. The Big Green won three Ivy League titles in those five years that he coached the receivers, including All-American Ed Long. He departed Dartmouth to take his first head coaching job at New Hampshire, improving the team by three games in his second year to go 5-3 and earn his first Coach of the Year honor from the New England Football Writers, as well as the New England Coach of the Year award from the UPI.

A tight end for Penn State under Rip Engle, Yukica was one of the top receivers for the 1950-52 Nittany Lions teams. He began his coaching career as an assistant freshman coach for his alma mater in 1953 while earning his master's degree. He then coached at the high school level, heading up the State College High team for a year before moving to Central Dauphin High in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, starting the football program at the new regional school. His team quickly became a powerhouse, and Yukica led the squad to an undefeated season in 1958, earning Coach of the Year honors. He spent the 1960 season as an end coach for West Chester State College before coming to Hanover.

In 2000, Yukica was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Sports Hall of Fame, and he was the founding member of the New Hampshire Chapter of the National Football Foundation.

Yukica was married to his wife Betty (nee Rine) for 54 years before her passing eight years ago, with whom he had three sons — Joseph Jr., James and Jackson. Information on a memorial service will be added to this space when it becomes available.

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