 Mortensen, circa 1951 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 16, 1907 Thatcher, Arizona, U.S.A. |
| Died | February 19, 1962 (aged 54) Riverside, California, U.S.A. |
| Alma mater | University of Southern California |
| Playing career | |
| 1928–1930 | University of Southern California |
| Position(s) | Javelin throw, Decathlon, Center and Left halfback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1931–1947 | Riverside Junior College (baseball, basketball, football and track & field) |
| 1947–1950 | University of Denver (track & field) |
| 1951–1961 | University of Southern California (track & field) |
| 1951-1955 | University of Southern California (assistant football coach) |
| 1956 Olympics | Team USA (assistant) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 64 - 0 (USC, track and field) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1, 1929 NCAA Javelin title 1, 1930 Rose Bowl, as football player 1, 1930 NCAA track & field title as captain 7, NCAA track & field titles, as head coach | |
| Awards | |
| 3 varsity letters in track and field at USC 3 varsity letters in basketball at USC 2 varsity letters in football at USC 8 total varsity letters at USC 1928 All-Pacific Coast Conf. basketball player 1930 All-Pacific Coast Conf. basketball player 1930 USC track & field team captain 1992 National Track and Field Hall of Fame 1996 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Coaches Hall of Fame 1997 University of Southern California Athletics Hall of Fame | |
Jesse Philo Mortensen (April 16, 1907, in Thatcher, Arizona – February 19, 1962) was an NCAA champion track athlete and coach. Mortensen is one of only three men to win Division I Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship team titles as both an athlete and coach.
Mortensen enrolled at the University of Southern California (USC) in 1928. While at USC, he won eight varsity letters, three each in basketball and track and field and two in football.[1] In basketball, he was selected as an All-Pacific Coast Conference player in 1928 and 1930. In football, he played at the left halfback position and was a member of the 1929 USC Trojans football team that defeated Pittsburgh in the 1930 Rose Bowl.[1] In track and field, Mortensen was captain of the 1930 NCAA championship track team. He won the 1929 NCAA javelin title and set a world record in the decathlon in 1931.
After graduating from USC, Mortensen held coaching positions at Riverside Junior College, with the United States Navy during World War II, and after the war at the University of Denver and the United States Military Academy.[2] He returned to become coach of the USC track and field team in 1951. He led the USC Trojans to seven NCAA titles in his 11 years as coach (1951–1961). His teams never lost a dual meet (64-0) and never finished worse than second in the conference meet. He was an assistant U.S. men's track coach in the 1956 Olympics. He also served as an assistant football coach at USC from 1951 to 1955. He coached track at the University of Denver and the United States Military Academy.
Mortensen died on 19 February 1962, at Good Samaritan Hospital.[3]
Mortensen is a member of the University of Southern California Athletic Hall of Fame,[4] the National Track and Field Hall of Fame[5] and the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association[6] Hall of Fame.[7]
Mortensen was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[8]
