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Posted: Nov 27, 2012

Longtime Owl Football Coach, John Strycula, Passes

Former Citrus College Head Football Coach John Strycula, pictured here at his desk in 1975, passed away this weekend. Photo By: Avril Russell
Former Citrus College Head Football Coach John Strycula, pictured here at his desk in 1975, passed away this weekend. Photo By: Avril Russell

Glendora, CA -- Former Citrus College Football Coach John Strycula passed away over the weekend. Strycula coached the Owls from 1967-1985 a span of 19 years. Strycula was inducted into the California Community College Football Coaches Hall of Fame back in March.

In his 19 years at the helm of the Owls, Strycula guided Citrus College to 10 conference championships, two playoff appearances, and three bowl game appearances. Strycula compiled an impressive 120-60-7 record in his time with Citrus, posting a lifetime winning percentage of .686 overall and .734 in conference play.

From 1975-1976, Strycula put together what was arguably Citrus' two best seasons in program history. The Owls went 9-0-1 in 1975, winning the Mission Conference Championship and played College of the Canyons in the Mission Bowl where the two teams tied 14-14. In 1976, the Owls captured their fourth straight Mission Conference title, went 8-1-1 on the year, and Citrus went on to beat Santa Barbara City College 24-0 in the Mission Bowl that season. Strycula retired in 1985 as the most successful football coach in the programs history.

Services for Coach Strycula will be held on Saturday December 1st at 11:00 AM at the Beaumont Presbyterian Church located at 702 Euclid Avenue in Beaumont, CA.