John Tierney graduated from the Milwaukee State Teachers College (MSTC) in 1936. He went on
to coach athletics and teach physical education and human kinetics at MSTC and UW-Milwaukee
or over four decades. Before retiring from UW-Milwaukee in May 1994, he had taken his track
and field teams to many wins. Tierney also served with the Wisconsin Amateur Athletic Union
for forty years, including six terms as president. He directed the Junior Olympics Program
in Wisconsin for track and field, as well as coaching the War Vets Wheelchair Olympics Track
and Field National Program and the state's Special Olympics Track and Field program. A UWM
major track meet was named in his honor, the Tierney Track Classic.
