Temple University Athletics
Temple Mourns Passing of Former Crew Coach John Hooten
3.7.18 | Men's Crew
PHILADELPHIA – John Hooten, a four-year member of the Temple crew team (1970-73) and a former coach for the Owls as well as the USA Women's National Team, died Monday while rowing in Northern California's Lake Natoma. He was 66.
Mr. Hooten, who was training for a regatta, fell into the lake while rowing in a single shell. A friend tried to rescue him, but was too late.
"John was a great personal friend and a generous benefactor to Temple Crew," said Temple men's crew coach emeritus Dr. Gavin White. "He was an excellent swimmer, runner, and sculler. He just could not row because of his size, but he was one of the best He had one of the greatest minds of any coxswain I have known."
White and Hooten rowed together all four years at Temple with Hooten skillfully handling his duties as the varsity eight coxswain.
"John was very cerebral, a great strategist as a coxswain," recalled White. "He knew what to say to get the best out of you."
Upon graduation from Temple in 1973, Mr. Hooten coached at Vesper Boat Club in Philadelphia for several years, mentoring six athletes – including his future wife, Sue – who represented the U.S. Olympics rowing team at the 1976 games in Montreal. Eighteen Vesper rowers became Olympians under Hooten's watch, and 32 earned spots on the U.S. national team.
Mr. Hooten also served as an assistant coach with the 1976 USA Olympic team and later served as the head coach of the US National Team until he retired from coaching in 1980.
Mr. Hooten returned to coaching for one year, taking over for White during the 1984-85 season as the longtime Owls' coach took a year sabbatical to complete his doctoral degree.
Recently, Mr. Hooten had coached the Johnson Ranch Barracudas youth swim club in Roseville from 2005 through 2016. The club is planning a candlelight vigil for him at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday at 2600 Eureka Road.
He also founded the Troopizi Unicycle Club and was Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 121, according to his Johnson Ranch biography.
Mr. Hooten, who was training for a regatta, fell into the lake while rowing in a single shell. A friend tried to rescue him, but was too late.
"John was a great personal friend and a generous benefactor to Temple Crew," said Temple men's crew coach emeritus Dr. Gavin White. "He was an excellent swimmer, runner, and sculler. He just could not row because of his size, but he was one of the best He had one of the greatest minds of any coxswain I have known."
White and Hooten rowed together all four years at Temple with Hooten skillfully handling his duties as the varsity eight coxswain.
"John was very cerebral, a great strategist as a coxswain," recalled White. "He knew what to say to get the best out of you."
Upon graduation from Temple in 1973, Mr. Hooten coached at Vesper Boat Club in Philadelphia for several years, mentoring six athletes – including his future wife, Sue – who represented the U.S. Olympics rowing team at the 1976 games in Montreal. Eighteen Vesper rowers became Olympians under Hooten's watch, and 32 earned spots on the U.S. national team.
Mr. Hooten also served as an assistant coach with the 1976 USA Olympic team and later served as the head coach of the US National Team until he retired from coaching in 1980.
Mr. Hooten returned to coaching for one year, taking over for White during the 1984-85 season as the longtime Owls' coach took a year sabbatical to complete his doctoral degree.
Recently, Mr. Hooten had coached the Johnson Ranch Barracudas youth swim club in Roseville from 2005 through 2016. The club is planning a candlelight vigil for him at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday at 2600 Eureka Road.
He also founded the Troopizi Unicycle Club and was Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 121, according to his Johnson Ranch biography.
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