Ralston began his coaching career in 1953 at San Lorenzo High School in San Lorenzo , California , just south of Oakland . He subsequently was an assistant coach at Mt. Diablo High School in Concord , California . in 1954 and 1955 . He then spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Cal from 1956 – 1958 . Ralston was then named head coach at Utah State University in 1959 . In four years there , he compiled a 31 – 11 – 1 record and won two Skyline Conference championships . He moved to Stanford University in 1963 and , over nine seasons , built a mark of 55 – 36 – 3 . In his last two seasons , 1970 – 1971 , Ralston 's teams won two Pacific-8 titles and notched back-to-back Rose Bowl victories over Ohio State and Michigan , both of whom were undefeated coming into the Rose Bowl game . Under Ralston 's tutelage , Stanford quarterback Jim Plunkett won the Heisman Trophy in 1970
Skyline Conference
Skyline Conference (1938–1962)
John Ralston (American football)