New Orleans Saints coach John North

North played for the Baltimore Colts of the All-American Football Conference (1948-49) and the NFL Colts in 1950.

A native of Gilliam, North grew up in Old Hickory, Tenn. He lettered in football, basketball and track at Castle Heights High School in Tennessee. He is a member of the Castle Heights Hall of Fame.

After receiving several offers, he signed with Vanderbilt, where he played football and basketball and ran track in 1942. But after his freshman year, he enlisted in the Marines to fight in World War II. He achieved the rank of sergeant, but was wounded on the Island of Tinian and awarded a Purple Heart.

North returned to Nashville and rejoined the Vanderbilt football team as an offensive and defensive end and kicker. He was an All-American as a senior. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round in 1945 and played three years at wide receiver for the Colts.

After retiring as a player, North began a lenghthy coaching career, first as a high school coach in Alabama then in the college ranks, including stints at Tennessee Tech and Kentucky. He later coached at LSU on the staff of Charles McClendon, but left in 1965 to join the Detroit Lions for eight seasons.

He joined the Saints' staff in 1972 as an assistant to J.D. Roberts. When Roberts was fired with two games remaining in the 1973 preseason schedule, North was promoted to head coach. He was at the helm for the season-opener, a 62-7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, but finished 5-9.

He endured a 42-day players' strike in 1974 and a rainy, mosquito-infested training camp in Thibodaux in 1975. He was fired Oct. 27, 1975, after a 38-14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams that gave the Saints a 1-5 start. He finished with a career record of 11-23.

John P. North Jr., who coached the New Orleans Saints jerseys through three tumultuous seasons, died Tuesday at his residence in Mandeville. He was 89.

Junior Galette is a defensive end in his rookie year with the New Orleans Saints jerseys. New Orleans signed Galette as an undrafted free agent in May. He spent his senior season at Stillman College after being kicked off Temple's football team for an undisclosed violation of team rules. Galette, 6 feet 2, 258 pounds, played on the defensive line for the first time at Stillman after playing linebacker at Temple. He made 56 tackles and 9 1/2 sacks and earned second-team Division II All-American honors. He recently spoke with staff writer Rachel Whittaker.