Jess Mortensen (1997) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

Jess Mortensen

Induction:
1997

Jess Mortensen was that rare combination of outstanding athlete and legendary coach...in a variety of sports all at the same school. He was a 3-sport USC letterman in football (1928-29), basketball (1928-30) and track (1928-30). He won the 1929 NCAA javelin title and set a world record in the decathlon in 1931, earned All-American honors in basketball in 1930, and was a member of the 1928 national championship Trojan football team and played in the 1930 Rose Bowl. After a 14-year coaching stint at Riverside Junior College, he returned to become coach of the Trojan track and field team in 1951. He led Troy to 7 NCAA titles in his 11 years (1951-61). His teams never lost a dual meet (64-0) and never finished lower than second in the conference meet. He was an assistant U.S. men's coach in the 1956 Olympics. He also served as an assistant football coach at USC from 1951 to 1955. He coached track at Denver and West Point, too. He died on Feb. 19, 1962, at age 54.