John Ellis Hoskins

As a youngster playing sports with other kids, John Hoskins knew he would be back some day as a coach. He was born in Fort Collins, Colorado and grew up on the Western Slope. Years later, his first coaching job took him back to the same area, to the town of Paonia.

John showed early on his athletic prowess. He and his brother Bob excelled at a variety of sports. John remained in sports all his life, while Bob followed other pursuits. Their mother supported them throughout their growing years in sports and church. Mrs. McKinney displayed sports training guidelines in their kitchen. A mutual contract, Mom would do her part by providing coach approved meals and making sure they had everything they needed. The boys had to practice, participate, and follow the rules.

One evening, John broke the curfew rule, “be in by 10:00 p.m.” Coming back from a hayride, he ran from the drop-off point, three miles to home. He came in through the back door and was greeted by his mother at 10:35 pm. “I love you John, but you’ve broken a training rule and have to be punished for it,” she stated. The punishment was that he could not play the next game. He told his coach the next day , and the coach said he would take care of it. After the phone call to his mom, the coach told him he wasn’t playing the next game.

John and his brother, Bob, took after their father’s athleticism. A tall, husky man, their Dad was a boxer for a time. As described by those who followed his career, he could have been one of the greats, like Jack Dempsey. Betty asked Ed to give up boxing because she could not recognize the man in the ring as the man she loved. He chose her and his sons. Unlike his father, John held on to his dream.

Betty and Ed McKinney were divorced early in their sons’ lives. John recalls after the divorce how his mother had to “work like a dog” to provide for herself and her sons. Just a youngster, John helped to support their little family too. He regularly washed dishes at a restaurant for three hours, for twenty five cents and sang for the customers for extra money.

Later Betty remarried. Her second husband, Peter Hoskins, was a good man and an excellent provider. He worked at construction projects all over the state, as well as in Alaska. He worked a lot, so he wasn’t able to spend a lot of time with his children. To this union was born their sister, Mary. The children never lacked for anything, recalls John. So with her second marriage, John was glad his mother didn’t have to work so hard anymore.

By his ninth grade year of high school, John began coaching during the summer months A and B legion youth baseball. He spent five years as a volunteer coach for the experience and because he loved what he was doing. During the regular school years, he participated in football, basketball, baseball and track.

Over his high school football career, he worked his way up from seventh string, to a starter on the offense and defense. As a fourth string player, an unexpected opportunity came up. He was substituted in at the halfback position. The quarterback told him what play he was going to call and threatened to beat him up if he didn’t score a touchdown. John received the hand-off at the ten yard line. He closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and ran like hell. He ran into an immovable object, the goal post, and fell down in front of it. He had crossed into the end zone for the touchdown! His high school took State, during his sophomore and senior years.

John tried out for the football team at Colorado A & M (now CSU) to gain a scholarship. He received some financial assistance and board. Besides football, he also participated in basketball, wrestling and track and field. Track and Field would become his favorite coaching venue. He received his BA in coaching and teaching Math, Biology and Physical Education. He continued his education, attaining his Master, in coaching and teaching from UNC in Greeley. He wanted to go for his Doctorate, but changed his mind. It was not convenient at the time.

John married Wanda West. They had three children, two boys and a girl. They were later divorced. One of his sons has passed as well as his daughter. His surviving son lives in Redondo Beach.

For most of his coaching life, he had the use of both of his legs. At other times of his career, he has been in land out of wheelchairs, due to various circumstances, such as changing health, surgeries and periods of rehabilitation. Actually twice in his life, his ability to walk has been interrupted. Since 1977, he has been mostly dependent on a power wheelchair to get around and accomplish his coaching tasks. In 2007, he went in for kidney- stone surgery and lost the use of both of his legs.

Recently John has accomplished a goal he has wanted for a year. He is back at coaching pole vault and high jump, at Ralston Valley High. He credits the coach who gave him the job; an assistant coach who gets him to the school each week; and the staff on South at Western Hills; nurses and aides who make sure he is in his wheelchair, dressed and ready to go, twice a week. He even attends meets on the weekends.

He trains 20 youth. He feels better qualified to coach track and field nowadays, then the other sports he used to coach. He is very methodical in his coaching. He divides the event into parts, working with the parts to create a more perfect whole, with each athlete. He also enjoys working with individuals who go on to compete at the state and national levels.

John’s coaching philosophy has been to never “cut” anyone. Like other coaches, he plays to win for the team, administration, community, and the families. He plays his starters and when the score is far enough ahead, he will play other team members. He also came up with the “fifth quarter” idea. After the game, he asked the referees to stay for a fifth quarter, where those who didn’t get to play during the game, could play.

Over his long career, John Hoskins has accomplished several years of record sports totals at several schools. He has written two books, So You Want To Be An Athlete, and Maxokinetics (weight training for athletes). He also created Colorado’s fist weight training sports program, ran sports clinics all over the U.S for High schools, as well as pro teams. He also developed exercise routines for athletes and sold food supplements for sports training. For a year, he tried working in administration, but he missed working with the kids too much.

Some of us know early on what we want to do with our life, and others take a long time trying to figure it out. John would say he has been blessed to know his dream and to have accomplished it. Despite many setbacks, he can look back and forward with a smile. I’m happy, he says.

Visitation will be from 4-7pm on Thurs. with services at 9:00am on Fri., both at Crown Hill Mortuary. Entombment to follow. Condolences may be offered at www.CrownHillMortuary.com.