2001 Inductee – Colorado Chapter

Lifetime Achievement Award

John W. Hancock will be forever known as the "father of Colorado high school wrestling." His wrestling legacy spanned 4 decades and continues to be felt in Colorado. He attended Iowa University where he graduated in 1925 and was an All-American football player, a Big Ten discus champ and a member of the basketball team. Hancock was named the "Big Ten Scholar-Athlete of the Year" as a junior.

After graduation, Hancock joined the Colorado State Teaching College staff, teaching and coaching football, track and establishing the wrestling program. He was hired as head football coach at Mississippi State where he stayed for 2 years and then accepted a position at Marquette University. He returned to Greeley in 1932 to remain until his retirement in 1966. He coached football at the University of Northern Colorado for 21 years and track for 30 years, while serving as athletic director for 34 years.

The wrestling teams Hancock coached at UNC were dominant in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, winning 30 consecutive conference championships. His 1963-1964 team finished fourth in the NCAA championships. He guided Len Lordino in 1961 and Jack Flasche in 1962 to individual NCAA championships.

One of the greatest contributions to the sport of wrestling in Colorado occurred in 1936 when Hancock organized the Colorado State High School Wrestling Tournament. He personally went door to door in Greeley to find housing for the visiting athletes and coaches. This first Colorado State High School Wrestling Tournament was held with nine teams and 40 wrestlers. The Tournament tripled the second year, and by 1941 moved to Denver to accommodate the growth.

Hancock served 16 years on the NCAA rules committee, which he chaired in 1962-1963 and was President of the National Wrestling Coaches Association in the same year. He has been honored by the Superior, Wisconsin Hall of Fame, The Colorado High School Coaches Hall of Fame (1970), The Colorado Hall of Fame (1969), the Helms Wrestling Hall of Fame (1958), the University of Northern Colorado Hall of Fame (1994) and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (1998). The Butler-Hancock gymnasium at the University of Northern Colorado was named in honor of John W. Hancock and Pete Butler, former UNC baseball coach.

In John W. Hancock’s lifetime of service to wrestling, he made original and unmatched contributions to the sport on a state and national level. His positive effect on the lives of the athletes he coached as well as his friends and acquaintances continue to be felt.