John deFries was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. He attended Roosevelt High School in 1963-65, where he played quarterback for the Varsity football team as a Sophomore and Junior.

After his junior season, John moved to Anaheim, California and enrolled at Loara High School. At Loara, John played defensive end and tight end for Herb Hill, the school’s first Head Football coach in 1965 and graduated in 1966. Loara were Irvine League Champions and went to the Semi-finals of AAA Division and lost to the eventual CIF Champions West Covina High School.

John went on to play tight end at Fullerton Jr. College in 1966-68, where he was a member of two undefeated seasons!

As a freshman, FJC were Eastern Conference Champions, played in the 1966 Shrine Potato Bowl in Bakersfield against Fresno City College and were No. 2 in the Nation with a 10-0-1 record.

During his sophomore season, John started as a tight end and his team again became Eastern Conference Champions. Fullerton Jr. College entered the State Playoffs that year and won the State Title by defeating the American River College team, 41-7, at Anaheim Stadium. After that game, Fullerton Jr. College were 12-0 and were also crowned the 1967 National Champions!

John graduated from Fullerton Junior College with an A.A. Degree in 1968 and received a scholarship to play football at Cal Western University in San Diego. He played tight end during his junior season and during the spring football season, he was moved to a Linebacker position.

John was named to the All-District 3, 1st team Linebacker, also named to the 1969 NAIA All-American, 1st Team Linebacker and was inducted into the Cal Western/USIU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985.

After graduating with his B.A. Degree in 1970, John went on to graduate school and received his teaching credential in 1971. In July, John was hired as a teacher and coach at his alma mater, Loara High School. Coach Herb Hill made John his Line coach on the Sophomore team in 1971-72. In 1973, John became the Varsity Line coach and was grateful to have learned from Herb Hill, who at the time was known as the “Dean of Orange County Football Coaches.”

In 1979, John was named Athletic Director at Loara High School and during that football season, Loara won the Empire League title and also captured their 2nd CIF Southern Section Football Championship at Anaheim Stadium.

After 3 seasons as the Defensive Coordinator, John left Loara and became an Assistant coach at Santa Ana College. John coached the offensive line at Santa Ana College from 1983-1990 and had some success as evidenced by “Back 2 Back” (1989-90) Orange County Championships.

When Coach Hill retired in 1990, John became the 2nd Head Football Coach at Loara High School. For the next 17 years John guided the Saxons until retiring in 2007. John has been a walk-on coach for the last 3 seasons. John coached at Godinez Fundamental High School in Santa Ana as their defensive coordinator. For the last two years, John has coached the defensive line at Fairmont Prep Academy in Anaheim.

John’s been with QBR for the last 23 years! He’s been the Head Coach of QBR’s two California summer camps at Cal Lutheran University and the Midwest camp for the last 15 years. John started coaching at QBR as a tight end coach, then was promoted to Receiver’s coordinator for a couple of years and then became Head Coach of the 3 camps.

This year will be very exciting as we are all looking forward with anticipation to our new Midwest venue at Valparaiso University in Indiana!

John is the proud father of four children: Greg, 30, a fireman in Tucson, Arizona; Kevin, 28, a sheriff in O.C., and daughter-in-law, Loren; Kristie, 25, and Son-in-law, Ryan; and Garrett, 20, a student in college. All three sons have been former campers at QBR and have also coached at QBR Camps many times!

Lastly, John has recently purchased a new home in Kapolei, Hawaii! It won’t be ready until June of 2010. "After all the camps are finished, then I’ll probably be able to go home for some R & R...but I'll be back at QBR Camp each summer! Aloha nui loa and God Bless!