The Calgary Stampeders are saddened to hear of the death of Jack (Jocko) Gotta, who was first an all-star player and later a successful head coach for the Red and White. Gotta, who was 83 years old, passed away Saturday morning at the Bethany Care Centre in Cochrane.

Gotta played four seasons with the Stampeders (1956-59) and a West all-star on both sides of the ball in 1957. He also earned all-star recognition in 1958.

He became head coach and general manager of the Stampeders in 1977 after Calgary had suffered through five straight losing seasons including a 2-12-2 mark in 1976. Within two years, the Stamps were back in the playoffs and making the first of back-to-back appearances in the West Division final.

One of Gotta’s players for three years as Calgary head coach was current Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel.

He returned to coach the Stamps in 1982 and 1983 and, over a total of five seasons at the helm, guided Calgary to a 42-34-4 record.

Gotta won the Annis Stukus Trophy as the CFL’s coach of the year on three occasions — with Ottawa in 1972 and 1973 and with Calgary in 1978.

As a player, Gotta led the West in receptions in 1957 with 39 catches for 652 yards and two touchdowns, while adding five interceptions on the defensive side of the ball. He also played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal Alouettes during his eight-year career.

He started his coaching career as an assistant in Saskatchewan in 1965 and moved to Ottawa in 1968. He became head coach of the Eastern Riders in 1970 and led Ottawa to a Grey Cup title in 1973. In 1974, he coach the Birmingham Americans to the first and only World Football League championship.

He worked as a football analyst on TV before returning to the sidelines in 1985 to become Saskatchewan’s head coach for two seasons.

Gotta was born in Ironwood, Mich., and played his college football at Oregon State. The Gotta family has asked that donations be made to Alzheimer Society of Calgary in lieu of flowers.