Stonko Sidney "Stan" Pavkov (October 23, 1916 – February 8, 2002) was an American football player and coach. He played college football for Idaho from 1935 to 1937 and professional football for the Cincinnati Bengals (1938) and Pittsburgh Pirates/Steelers (1939–1940). He was an Idaho high school coach from 1940 to 1948. He moved to California in 1948 and held various coaching positions at Modesto Junior College for 48 years from 1948 to 1996.
 Stonko Pavkov, c. 1940 | |||||
| No. 30 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positions | Guard, tackle | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born | October 23, 1916 Gooding, Idaho, U.S. | ||||
| Died | February 8, 2002 (aged 85) Modesto, California, U.S. | ||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||
| Listed weight | 212 lb (96 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school | Gooding (Gooding, Idaho) | ||||
| College | Idaho | ||||
| Career history | |||||
Playing | |||||
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Coaching | |||||
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Operations | |||||
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| Career statistics | |||||
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Early years
editPavkov was born in 1916 in Gooding, Idaho. He attended Gooding High School where he was an outstanding football player and wrestler.[1][2] He then played college football for Idaho Vandals from 1935 to 1937.[1] He also competed on the wrestling team at Idaho and narrowly missed making the US Olympic team in 1936.[2]
Professional football
editPavokov signed a contract with the Cleveland Rams in March 1938.[3]also played professional football for the minor league Cincinnati Bengals and Paterson Panthers in 1938. He then played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 1939 and 1940 season. He appeared in 11 or 13 NFL games as an offenssive guard and linebacker for the Pirates/Steelers.[2][1][4]
Coaching career
editAfter his playing career ended, Pavkov served in the U.S. Army. He then returned to Idaho and taught and coach football and track in American Falls, Blackfoot, and Idaho Falls.[2][5][6][7][8]
In 1948, he was hired as head track coach and assistant football coach at Modesto Junior College (MJC) in Modesto, California.[9] In 1951, we was promoted to head football coach, holding that position for 17 seasons and compiling a 66–83–7 record.[10] He later became the athletic director and remained at MJC until 1995. At Modesto, he coached players such as Gino Marchetti, Paul Wiggin, Dave Maggard, Proverb Jacobs, and John Gamble.[2] He also coached golf, track, and swimming at Modesto Junior College.[2] He retired from Modesto in 1995.[11]
Later years and death
editHead coaching record
editJunior college football
edit| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto Pirates (Big Seven/Eight Conference) (1951–1961) | |||||||||
| 1951 | Modesto | 6–4 | 3–3 | T–3rd | |||||
| 1952 | Modesto | 7–2 | 4–2 | T–2nd | |||||
| 1953 | Modesto | 7–3 | 4–2 | 3rd | |||||
| 1954 | Modesto | 1–7–1 | 1–4–1 | 6th | |||||
| 1955 | Modesto | 5–4 | 4–3 | 3rd | |||||
| 1956 | Modesto | 3–6 | 3–4 | 5th | |||||
| 1957 | Modesto | 5–4 | 5–2 | T–1st | |||||
| 1958 | Modesto | 7–2 | 5–2 | T–1st | |||||
| 1959 | Modesto | 2–6–1 | 1–5–1 | 7th | |||||
| 1960 | Modesto | 3–6 | 3–4 | T–5th | |||||
| 1961 | Modesto | 3–6 | 2–5 | T–5th | |||||
| Modesto Pirates (Valley Conference) (1962–1967) | |||||||||
| 1962 | Modesto | 6–3 | 3–2 | T–2nd | |||||
| 1963 | Modesto | 2–5–2 | 1–3–1 | T–4th | |||||
| 1964 | Modesto | 0–7–1 | 0–5 | 6th | |||||
| 1965 | Modesto | 4–5 | 1–4 | 6th | |||||
| 1966 | Modesto | 2–7 | 0–5 | 6th | |||||
| 1967 | Modesto | 1–7–1 | 0–4–1 | 6th | |||||
| Modesto: | 64–84–6 | 40–59–4 | |||||||
| Total: | 64–84–6 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
References
edit- 1 2 3 "Stan Pavkov". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Modesto legend started in Idaho". North Idaho News Network. March 13, 1990. p. A10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Stanko Pavokov to Turn Professional". Bonners Ferry Herald. March 10, 1938. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Stan Pavkov Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
- ↑ "Pavkov to Coach At American Falls: Professional Football Player Appointed High School Grid Mentor". Twin Falls News. August 16, 1941. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Pavkov Changes Jobs". Times-News. May 6, 1943. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Idaho Falls Gets New Grid Coach". The Idaho Statesman. May 23, 1944. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Stan Pavkov New Grid Mentor Here, Junior High Physical Director". The Post-Register. May 22, 1946. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Stan Pavkov Gets Modesto J. C. Job". The Post-Register. Idaho Falls, Idaho. Associated Press. June 22, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved May 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com
. - ↑ Gandolfo, Lu (November 7, 1967). "Stan Pavko Resigns As MJC Grid Coach". The Modesto Bee. Modesto, California. p. A9. Retrieved May 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
- ↑ Kristie Ackert (May 5, 1995). "Retiring Pavko says pleasure was in the teaching". The Modesto Bee. p. C4 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Brian Vander Beek (February 9, 2002). "Longtime MJC coach dies". The Modesto Bee. pp. C1, C3 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
edit- Career statistics from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference