John L. Toner (May 4, 1923 – September 23, 2014) was an American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator.
[4] Toner resigned as football coach at the end of the 1970 season to concentrate on his position as athletic director.
[5] Toner became UConn's athletic director in 1969, continuing a tradition of elevating someone from the football program to that position.
During his tenure, he was involved in implementing Title IX in collegiate athletics, splitting college football into Divisions I-A and I-AA, and passing new freshman eligibility rules.
[8] He also was involved in Herschel Walker's leaving college early to join the United States Football League.