John Franklin "Smiling Jack" Wiley (April 18, 1920 â March 25, 2013) was an American football player and coach. He played professionally a tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1946 to 1950. Willey served as the head football coach at his alma mater, Waynesburg CollegeâÂÂnow known as Waynesburg UniversityâÂÂin Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, from 1951 to 1954, compiling a record of 22âÂÂ9âÂÂ1.
Wiley played college football as a tackle at Waynesburg CollegeâÂÂnow known as Waynesburg UniversityâÂÂin Waynesburg, Pennsylvania and appeared in the 1939 Waynesburg vs. Fordham football game, the first televised American football game. His three older brothersâÂÂRobert, Asa, and BillâÂÂalso played football as Waynesburg. The youngest Wiley brother graduated from Waynesburg in 1941. He served in the United States Army during World War II, attaining the rank of captain.
After World War II, Wiley played for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1946 to 1950, under head coaches Jock Sutherland and John Michelosen.
Wiley was the head football coach at his alma mater, Waynesburg, for four seasons, from 1951 to 1954, compiling a record of 22âÂÂ9âÂÂ1.
Wiley left Waynesburg to become an assistant at Pitt, where he is credited with recruiting Mike Ditka and Marty Schottenheimer.
Waynesburg left coaching in 1961 to become a salesman and later regional manager for the L.G. Balfour Jewelry & Taylor Publishing Company. He died on March 25, 2013, in Rock Hill, South Carolina.