John A. Lahoski (1975) - Hall of Fame - University of Akron Athletics

John A. Lahoski

Induction:
1975
Class:
1965

INAUGURAL CLASS
1961-63
Linebacker/Fullback

Standing only 5-8 and weighing 180 pounds John Lahoski wasn’t one of the huge physical specimens that march up and down the football field at linebacker or fullback
for the Blue and Gold.

However, “Jarrin John”, as he was called during his playing days when UA won 19 of 26 games, was what is referred to as a “player”. Lahoski became a started at linebacker as a sophomore in 1961, under a new head coach Gordon Larson.

The following season Lahoski proved he could go both ways. Possessing tremendous quickness and desire to be a perfectionist, Lahoski excelled on defense as a torrid tackler and was selected first-team All-Ohio Conference at linebacker. Offensively he rushed for 247 yards in 54 attempts and scored 32 points. It was a sign of things to come.

As co-captain during his senior campaign, Lahoski was called on the play 60 minutes of football. At the season’s end, Lahoski had performed so outstandingly that he was voted first-team All-Ohio Conference at linebacker and first-team at fullback.

Also during the 1963 season, Lahoski set an Ohio Conference record for the most carries in a single game (42) against Youngstown. En route, Lahoski rushed for 766 yards in 159 attempts and set an all-time Akron record of 14 touchdowns by rushing for 84 points, tops in the Ohio Conference. Lahoski was voted the school’s 1964 Athlete of the Year.