Bob Bronzan
Bob Bronzan
Description: Jan. 11, 1919 – Dec. 10, 2006
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Posted by editor Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
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0 responses 0 comments Robert T. (Bob) Bronzan, star San Jose State football player who later served the Spartans as an assistant football coach, head coach and athletics director, died on Dec. 10, at age 87.
Bronzan was born Jan. 11, 1919, to Tehachapi pioneers (1903-1962) Blaz and Lucy Bronzan at home, 124 West F St., and graduated from Tehachapi High School in 1935.
Bronzan played on the 1937 through 1939 football teams and was named an honorable mention All-American tackle in 1939 during San Jose State's perfect 13-0 season.
Following his service as an Air Force officer in World War II, he returned to San Jose State and was an assistant coach on Bill Hubbard's highly successful teams of 1946 through 1949. In 1950, he was appointed head coach of the Spartans. At age 31, he was the youngest head coach in major college football. In his seven seasons, he was named the Northern California Sportswriters College "Coach of the Year" three times.
Bronzan holds the distinct honor of being the only coach who has two former players serve as head coaches of Super Bowl winning teams — Bill Walsh, an end at San Jose State in 1952 and 1953, and Dick Vermeil, a quarterback for the 1956 and 1957 Spartans. Bronzan guided 19 university, 29 community college and approximately 150 high school protégées into the coaching profession.
Following his San Jose State coaching career, he served the university as the athletics director from 1960 through 1971, and as a professor in the human performance department for 34 years until 1980.
His recognition and awards were numerous. He is a member of the National Association of College Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and San Jose State hall of fame. He is one of five recipients of the NACDA Merit Award. In 2005, NACDA honored him with the James J. Corbett Memorial Award.
Bronzan was pre-deceased by his first wife, Grace Olson, who died in 1971, parents, brothers Blasito and George and sisters Louise Vasilj and Helen Hall.
He is survived by Jo Ann Bronzan, his wife of 35 years; son Robert A. Bronzan of Vancouver, Wash.; daughter Sharon Bronzan of Portland, Ore.; stepson Joseph Dobie; grandchildren Nicholas Bronzan, Emily Dobie, Gretta Dobie, Ellie Dobie and Rebecca Kiser; and, brother Nick Bronzan and his wife, Alta Bronzan, of Mesa, Ariz.
A memorial service is scheduled for Jan. 12, at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 515 Sunrise Ave., Roseville, Calif.
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