John W. Anderson (American football)

John W. Anderson (January 6, 1933 – January 15, 1998) was an American college football coach. He served as the head football coach at Middlebury College from 1969 to 1972 and at Brown University from 1973 to 1983, compiling career head coaching record of 81–50–3.

A native of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Anderson was a standout guard at Ursinus College. After graduating, he spent two years in the United States Army. He was an assistant coach at Northern High School and Central Dauphin High School before breaking into the college ranks as the offensive line coach at Dartmouth. In 1968, he served as the defensive line coach at Boston College. From 1969 to 1972, he was head football coach at Middlebury College. He quickly turned around the program, recording a winning record in only his second season. In 1972, Middlebury finished the season with an 8–0 record. In 1973, he was named head coach at Brown University. In 1976, he led Brown to its first Ivy League conference championship. He left Brown in 1984 to work with the New England Institute of Technology in Florida. Anderson died of a heart attack on January 15, 1998, at his home in Palm Coast, Florida.