John L. Toner ( May 4 , 1923 – September 23 , 2014 ) was an American football player , coach , and college athletics administrator . He served as the head football coach at the University of Connecticut ( UConn ) from 1966 to 1970 and as the school 's athletic director from 1969 to 1987 . During his 18-year tenure as athletic director Toner also served in several roles with the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) , including as its president from 1983 to 1985 . Toner was responsible for several momentous decisions in his time as athletic director at UConn , including UConn becoming a founding member of the Big East Conference in 1979 , as well as the hiring of future Hall of Fame coaches Geno Auriemma and Jim Calhoun . He also oversaw the funding and construction of Gampel Pavilion
Big East Conference
Big East Conference (1979–2013)
John Toner