RIP John Tansley
Track and Field has lost a GIANT. John Tansley, a tireless, multi-faceted, internationally respected coach, who could and did coach every event and who influenced hundreds of coaches, died on April 16, 2021, at age 85.
John’s early career traveled from Gunn, Bellflower, and Tustin high schools to Glendale College. It was in his 14 years at Glendale CC that John came into the sport’s spotlight. His curiosity and desire to learn became a B-12 shot to the sport as he was much more than just a coach for the college. His annual clinic, all comer meets, and decathlon brought hundreds of coaches and athletes to the campus. He became a popular clinic speaker, prolific writer for journals, and international lecturer in Latin America, Asia, and Europe. His fascination and success with the high jump led to his 1980 publication, “The Flop.” Dwight Stones, former world record holder, called the internationally reviewed book the best ever produced. Over 10,000 copies were sold. He served as the USA Olympic high jump coach at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
During his Glendale CC tenure his track and field teams won 72 consecutive dual meets, eight consecutive conference titles and tied San Jose CC for the 1975 state title. Four state cross country titles were also under his watch including the 1974 dominant team coached by Mark Covert and led by the talented Bobby Thomas.
Former Glendale CC athletes remember John bringing his truck onto the track for innovative TOW training to enhance speed. John’s mind was always curious about improvement with his athletes.
At Glendale he befriended J. Walter Smith, Glendale CC Dean of Students, and the 1984 Olympic recall starter. They worked together to convert dozens of Southern California track facilities from yards to meters.
Wanting a change, John took the Cal State Long Beach position where his cross country team won a PCAA title. Then, surprising most in the sport, he moved over to Cal State LA, a program that only had six athletes on the team prior to his hire. He proceeded to win four consecutive conference titles in track and field and his cross country teams won two consecutive NCAA D-II Regional titles.
John was a contributing writer to the LA 84 Sports Foundation track and field manual and an annual speaker for their clinics.
Upon retirement, John and wife Sharon moved to Arizona where he volunteered in track and field with several Tucson area high schools.
Our condolences go out to Sharon and daughter Marta.
-Larry Knuth, 1975-6 Glendale CC Asst. for John Tansley
I knew John briefly and recognized him as outstanding. Did not realize that he was 85.
Another lost to the coaching community.
Joe Rogers
RIP, John. Tom Pagani
Hi Bruce,
Thanks for sending this. When Coach Tansley was coaching at Long Beach State, Ron Allice was probably the head coach. When I was on the Long Beach City track team with Coach Allice, one of his assistants was WJim Richardson, who is in the picture in the article with Coach Tansley when he was at Long Beach State.
Barry Weaver
1 comment:
John Tansley was a special man, who saw no bounties when it came to what others could achieve. In the 1970's when title 9 was being embraced and acknowledged, John Tansley was there to champion the movement. When I was hired as the Women's Track and Field coach at Glendale Coach around 1977-78 I was more than just the women's coach, I was a part of the Track and Field coaching staff. As I was a pentathlete in college, Coach had me work with all the hurdlers and high jumpers on the team (men and women). We were the Glendale College Track team.
In 1981 I joined the United States Navy and was on the Navy's Women's Inter-services Track and Field Team. Little did I know that 2 years later Coach Tansley and I would meet again. He was my track coach. He and is staff had been hired to coach the Navy's Inter-services Track and Field Teams. I was so excited, grateful and please. I did make it to the podium with his guidance.
Thank you John Tansley for all support.
May you rest in peace
Dalal M. Ahmad
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