Hutchinson CC Sports Information

John Matous, one of the best football coaches in Hutchinson Community College program history, died on Saturday at the age of 91.

Matous was Blue Dragon Football's head coach from 1964 to 1978. Matous posted a record of 97-49-6. His 97 wins rank third in Blue Dragon Football history and still rank sixth in Jayhawk Conference football history.

Matous was inducted to the Blue Dragon Quarterback Club Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Wichita Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.

Before Matous' arrival at Hutchinson, success on the football field was sparse, not winning a conference title since 1950. The Dragons had moderate success in Matous' first three seasons, going 6-4 in both 1964, 1965 and 1966.

That's when the fortunes of Blue Dragon Football began to change. A 7-2-1 record in 1967 led by All-American running back Mack Herron started the upward trend.

Matous' 1969 team snapped the drought of conference championships at 19 years when the Dragons went 10-0 and defeated Nassau College 32-7 in the 1969 Sterling Silver Bowl.

Matous' 1974 team tied for the Jayhawk Conference championship.

Matous coached 12 NJCAA All-Americans, including four from the 1969 team. He coached three Quarterback Club Hall of Famers – Lonnie Crittenden, Jack Morris and Mo Lattimore – and another 16 JC Gridwire All-Americans.

After his coaching tenure was completed after the 1978 season, Matous remained at Hutchinson Community College as an instructor and retired in 1992.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Friday, December 15, 2023, at Elliott Mortuary in Hutchinson. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, at Elliott Mortuary.