John Petercuskie

{{Short description|American football player and coach (1925–2018)}}

{{Infobox college coach

| name = John Petercuskie

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1925|1|31}}

| birth_place = Old Forge, Pennsylvania

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2018|4|20|1925|1|31}}

| death_place =

| alma_mater = East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (1950)

| player_years1 = c. 1949

| player_team1 = East Stroudsburg

| player_positions = Guard

| coach_years1 = 1951–1952

| coach_team1 = Old Forge HS (PA) (assistant)

| coach_years2 = 1953–1959

| coach_team2 = Neshaminy HS (PA) (assistant)

| coach_years3 = 1960–1965

| coach_team3 = Neshaminy HS (PA)

| coach_years4 = 1966–1968

| coach_team4 = Dartmouth (DL)

| coach_years5 = 1969–1972

| coach_team5 = Boston College (DC)

| coach_years6 = 1973–1977

| coach_team6 = Princeton (DL)

| coach_years7 = 1978–1984

| coach_team7 = Cleveland Browns (ST)

| coach_years8 = 1987–1988

| coach_team8 = Harvard (DL)

| coach_years9 = 1989–1994

| coach_team9 = Liberty (DL/ST)

| overall_record = 59–1–5

| bowl_record =

| tournament_record =

| championships =

| awards =

| coaching_records =

}}

John Stephen Petercuskie (January 31, 1925 – April 20, 2018) was a former American football coach.

Military service

After graduating high school in the summer of 1942, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He was trained as a radar operator on the SCR-270 and attained the rank of Sergeant. As a member of Air Warning Squadron 8, he took part in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945.

Coaching career

He served as head coach at Neshaminy High School from 1960 to 1965, garnering a 59–1–5 record. He also served on the coaching staffs of college football teams at Dartmouth College, Boston College, Princeton University, Harvard University, Liberty University, and as an assistant coach (defensive line and special teams coach) on the Cleveland Browns from 1978 to 1984.{{Cite web |url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/pete00500coach.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=April 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908235119/http://www.profootballarchives.com/pete00500coach.html |archive-date=September 8, 2015 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.neshaminyfootball.com/history/notable_eras/1960_petercuskie/jpetercuskie_update.htm|title=Where are the now - J. Petercuskie|website=Neshaminyfootball.com|accessdate=April 25, 2018|archive-date=April 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426011732/http://www.neshaminyfootball.com/history/notable_eras/1960_petercuskie/jpetercuskie_update.htm|url-status=dead}} In 2010, a bronze statue of his likeness was unveiled at Harry P. Franks Stadium in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.{{cite web|url=http://www.buckslocalnews.com/articles/2010/09/21/the_advance/news/doc4c977a2200bc9095057348.txt|format=TXT|title=Neshaminy honors a football legend, unveils bronze statue of 'Coach Cuskie'|date=September 20, 2010|website=Buckslocalnews.com|accessdate=April 25, 2018}} He is a member of the Bucks County Sports Hall of Fame, Neshaminy Hall of Fame, Scranton Hall of Fame, East Stroudsburg Hall of Fame, Lackawanna County Hall of Fame, Luzerne County Hall of Fame and Pennsylvania Coaches Hall of Fame.{{cite web|url=http://buckscountysportshof.com/honorees/2011-honorees/petercuskiebio-2/|title=John Petercuskie|website=Bucks County Sports Hall of Fame|accessdate=April 25, 2018}} Petercuskie died at his home on April 20, 2018.{{cite web|title=John Petercuskie 1925 ~ 2018|url=https://www.ccgfuneralhome.com/obit/john-petercuskie|website=John Lawrence Funeral Home|accessdate=April 25, 2018}}