PITTSBURG — Pittsburg State University Athletics is saddened by the news of the passing of Hall of Fame football alum and legendary coach John Levra. Levra passed away Wednesday, Jan. 6. He was 88.

Hailing from Arma, Levra came to Pittsburg State to play football for the Gorillas Hall of Fame coach Carnie Smith in 1955. A two-way player, Levra helped lead the Gorillas to the school's first NAIA National Championship and an unblemished season as a junior in 1957. As a team captain in 1958, he was named the Pitt State's most valuable player and was selected as a second-team All-Central Intercollegiate Conference (CIC) performer.

Following his playing time at Pittsburg State, Levra began his coaching career at the high school level, first at McCune High School for two years then at Kansas City Washington High School for five years before breaking into the college coaching ranks in 1966 at New Mexico Highlands as the school's offensive coordinator.

Following one season in that role, Levra was promoted to head coach for the 1967 season. In four seasons, he led the Cowboys to a 35-4-1 record. Levra left NMHU for Stephen F. Austin University in 1971 where he guided the Lumberjacks to back-to-back nine-win seasons in 1973-74 as well as a Poultry Bowl appearance in 1973.

Following the 1974 season, he returned to his home state to become offensive coordinator at the University of Kansas. Levra spent four years at KU, coaching legendary Jayhawk Nolan Cromwell in the process, before spending one year each at the University of North Texas (1979) and the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League (1980).

In 1981, Levra was hired by first-year head coach O.A. "Bum" Phillips to join his coaching staff with the New Orleans Saints. For the next 23 seasons, Levra served as an assistant coach in the National Football League for the Saints (1981-85), Chicago Bears (1986-92), Denver Broncos1993-94), Minnesota Vikings (1995-97) and Buffalo Bills (1998-2002). In addition to working for Bum Phillips, Levra's collective tenure included service for NFL head coaching greats Mike Ditka, Dennis Green and Wade Phillips.

Levra was inducted into the PSU Athletics Hall of Fame with the inaugural class in 1988 as a team member on the 1957 national championship squad and again as an individual in 2000. Levra also was honored with Pittsburg State University's Meritorious Achievement Award in 2004.

Additionally, he was inducted into the NMHU Athletic Fall of Fame in 2009 and the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.