View source for Jack Gotta

{{Short description|American and Canadian football player (1929–2013)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2013}}

{{Infobox CFL biography
| name = Jack Gotta
| image = 
| alt = 
| caption = 
| birth_date = {{birth date|1929|11|14}}
| birth_place = [[Ironwood, Michigan]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|6|29|1929|11|14}}
| death_place = [[Calgary]], [[Alberta]], Canada
| team = 
| number = 
| status = 
| import = yes
| position1 = Wide receiver
| position2 = Defensive back
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lb = 220
| college = [[Oregon State University|Oregon State]]
| administrating_years1 = 1974
| administrating_team1 = [[Birmingham Americans]] ([[World Football League|WFL]])
| administrating_years2 = 1975
| administrating_team2 = [[Birmingham Vulcans]] ([[World Football League|WFL]])
| administrating_years3 = {{CFL Year|1977}}–{{CFL Year|1983}}
| administrating_team3 = [[Calgary Stampeders]]
| coaching_years1 = {{CFL Year|1970}}–{{CFL Year|1973}}
| coaching_team1 = [[Ottawa Rough Riders]]
| coaching_years2 = 1974
| coaching_team2 = Birmingham Americans ([[World Football League|WFL]])
| coaching_years3 = {{CFL Year|1977}}–{{CFL Year|1979}}
| coaching_team3 = Calgary Stampeders
| coaching_years4 = {{CFL Year|1982}}–{{CFL Year|1983}}
| coaching_team4 = Calgary Stampeders
| coaching_years5 = {{CFL Year|1985}}–{{CFL Year|1986}}
| coaching_team5 = [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]]
| playing_years1 = {{CFL Year|1956}}–{{CFL Year|1959}}
| playing_team1 = [[Calgary Stampeders]]
| playing_years2 = {{CFL Year|1960}}–{{CFL Year|1964}}
| playing_team2 = [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]]
| playing_years3 = {{CFL Year|1964}}
| playing_team3 = [[Montreal Alouettes]]
| career_highlights = 
| CFLWestAllStar = {{CFL Year|1957}}, {{CFL Year|1958}}, {{CFL Year|1961}}
| honors = 3× [[Annis Stukus Trophy]] - 1972, 1973, 1978
}}
'''Jack "Jocko" Gotta''' (November 14, 1929 – June 29, 2013) was an [[United States|America]]n-born [[Canadians|Canadian]] professional football player, coach, and general manager.

Gotta played [[tight end]] at [[Oregon State]] in 1952 and [[Hamilton Air Force Base]] from 1954 to 1956.  He signed with the [[Cleveland Browns]] in [[1956 NFL season|1956]], but was cut and played with the [[Calgary Stampeders]] of the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL) from 1957 to [[1959 CFL season|1959]].  In [[1960 CFL season|1960]] he signed with the [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]].  He sometimes played corner [[linebacker]] and [[Safety (football position)|safety]] due to injuries on [[Defense (sport)|defense]]. During the [[1964 CFL season|1964 season]] he was cut by Saskatchewan and signed by the [[Montreal Alouettes]].

In [[1965 CFL season|1965]] he rejoined the Roughriders as an assistant coach.  He resigned after the [[1967 CFL season|1967 season]] and joined the [[Ottawa Rough Riders]] coaching staff.  In [[1970 CFL season|1970]] he replaced the retiring [[Frank Clair]] as head coach.  The team went from first to last place, however the team made the playoffs every year afterwards.  He had a 30–26 record in his four seasons as Ottawa's head coach, winning the [[Grey Cup]] in [[1973 CFL season|1973]] and the [[Annis Stukus Trophy]] in [[1972 CFL season|1972]] and 1973.

In 1974, he jumped to the [[World Football League]]'s [[Birmingham Americans]] as head coach and [[general manager]].  The Americans, led by [[George Mira]], [[Charley Harraway]], and [[Dennis Homan]], finished with a 15–5 record and won the only WFL [[World Bowl]] at [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham's]] [[Legion Field]], defeating the [[Florida Blazers]] 22–21.

In 1975 the Americans folded, new ownership was brought in and the team renamed themselves the Vulcans. Gotta stayed on as General Manager only. The team had a league best 9–3 record when the WFL folded.  He returned to the CFL in [[1977 CFL season|1977]] as head coach/general manager of the [[Calgary Stampeders]].  He retired as coach after four seasons, but remained on as GM.

When [[Jerry Williams (American football)|Jerry Williams]] resigned as head coach after the [[1981 CFL season]], he returned to the sidelines. He remained in Calgary until 1983, when he was fired after missing the playoffs.

As the Stampeders coach, he finished with a 44–46–6 record and won Coach of the Year in [[1978 CFL season|1978]].

In [[1984 CFL season|1984]] he joined the [[CFL on CTV]] as a commentator. He left the network to become head coach of the [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]] in [[1985 CFL season|1985]]. In two seasons with the Green Riders he had an 11–22–1 record,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/sports/story.html?id=dad61647-9e91-4af4-9153-f6ad538144c6 |title=Players offer support to Austin |access-date=January 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103201812/http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/sports/story.html?id=dad61647-9e91-4af4-9153-f6ad538144c6 |archive-date=November 3, 2012 }}</ref>

Gotta died on June 29, 2013, in [[Calgary]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Jack Gotta, former CFL player, coach and general manager, dies at 83|url=http://www.tribtown.com/view/story/669d78552c9d41159cc32ee3a7f7131a/FBO--Obit-Gotta|access-date=June 30, 2013|newspaper=TribTown.com|date=June 29, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630021658/http://www.tribtown.com/view/story/669d78552c9d41159cc32ee3a7f7131a/FBO--Obit-Gotta|archive-date=June 30, 2013}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Ottawa Rough Riders coach navbox}}
{{Calgary Stampeders general manager navbox}}
{{Calgary Stampeders coach navbox}}
{{Saskatchewan Roughriders coach navbox}}
{{54th Grey Cup}}
{{61st Grey Cup}}
{{Annis Stukus Trophy}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gotta, Jack}}
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:American emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:American football executives]]
[[Category:American football linebackers]]
[[Category:American football safeties]]
[[Category:American football tight ends]]
[[Category:Birmingham Americans coaches]]
[[Category:Calgary Stampeders coaches]]
[[Category:Calgary Stampeders players]]
[[Category:Canadian Football League announcers]]
[[Category:Cleveland Browns players]]
[[Category:Montreal Alouettes players]]
[[Category:Oregon State Beavers football players]]
[[Category:People from Ironwood, Michigan]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Michigan]]
[[Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders players]]
[[Category:Players of Canadian football from Michigan]]
[[Category:Canadian football tight ends]]