Tully Takes Whitworth Job

John Tully, a football coach with Northwest ties, has been named the head coach at Whitworth College.

Tully had been the head coach at Eureka (Ill.) College for the past five seasons. He replaces Blaine “Shorty” Bennett, who resigned in September. Daryl Squires came out of retirement to coach the Pirates to a 3-6 record last season.

Tully was an assistant at Southern Oregon State College in Ashland from 1984 to 1989. He took Eureka, an NAIA Division II team, to the national playoffs in 1991 and 1994, and was voted Illini-Badger Conference coach of the year after those seasons. He is a finalist for the American Football Coaches Association coach of the year award, to be announced this week.

In 1991 he coached Eureka to its first undefeated season (10-0) in school history.

A four-year starter at quarterback for Azusa (Calif.) Pacific University, where he is a member of the school’s Hall of Fame, Tully went on to play minor-league football for the California Razorbacks from 1975-77. He then coached in the high school ranks for southern Oregon powers Grants Pass (1979-82) and Medford (1983).

Tully and his wife, Debbie, have three sons: 8-year-old Jay, 6-year-old Travis and 3-year-old Bo.

Tormey keeps four assistants

University of Idaho football coach Chris Tormey has announced that he has retained assistant coaches Nick Holt, Jim Senter, Greg Olson and Todd Hoiness.

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