FORMER GROSSMONT COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACH KILLED BY WIFE IN MURDER-SUICIDE

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Dave Jordan in 2012, courtesy of Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

September 2, 2018 (El Cajon) – A Blossom Valley couple, David Wesley Jordan, 82, and his wife, Jean Adele Jordon, 83, died of gunshots to their heads in an apparent murder-suicide, the Medical Examiner’s office has concluded.

A physical therapist told Sheriff’s homicide investigators that upon arrival at the home on Toya Lane in unincorporated El Cajon at 8 a.m. Friday, a note was on the sliding glass door.  The therapist entered the home and found the couple’s bodies in the living room.  A revolver was in Jean Jordan’s hands.

David Jordan was a long-time football coach at Grossmont College, where he led the team to a statewide championship title in 2005 and won many honors for his coaching.

Jordan spent 36 years at Grossmont College as an assistant and coach. He was head coach from 1971 to 1978, then left coaching until he returned to Grossmont College as an assistant in 1981. He again was named head coach in 1990, serving until his retirement in 2006. During his time as head coach, the Grossmont Griffins compiled a 135-89-9 overall record, brought home state and national football championships in 2005, and a state championship in 1974.

 He was named National Coach of the Year in 2005, was also twice named State Coach of the Year, and was selected by his peers eight times as Conference Coach of the Year.

In 2012, he was named to the California Community College Football Coaches Hall of Fame.“I want to tell you all that winning was great,” Jordan told the Union-Tribune at the time. “But even greater was the chance I had to help so many young students to get their lives straight.”

The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District has issued a statement voicing sadness at news of the deaths of Coach Jordan and his wife.

“We mourn the loss of Dave Jordan, who had a deep passion for helping students, both on the football field and in life,” said Grossmont College President Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh. “He helped build Grossmont College’s football program into a nationally ranked team and transformed the lives of many young men.”

 The team’s current head coach is Jordan’s son, Mike; he took over as head coach in 2006.

No information on the possible motive for the tragedy has been made available.