 Allen, c. 1990 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 23, 1943 Superior, Montana, U.S. |
| Died | December 30, 1996 (aged 53) Missoula, Montana, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1961–1964 | Utah |
| 1965–1967 | BC Lions |
| 1967 | Edmonton Eskimos |
| Position(s) | Quarterback, cornerback, defensive halfback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1968–1972 | Simon Fraser (assistant) |
| 1973–1976 | Simon Fraser (co-HC) |
| 1977–1979 | Montana (DC/DB) |
| 1980–1981 | Eastern Washington (DC) |
| 1982 | California (DB) |
| 1983–1984 | Los Angeles Express (assistant) |
| 1985 | Portland Breakers (DC) |
| 1986–1992 | Portland State |
| 1993–1996 | Boise State |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 87–41–2 |
| Tournaments | 10–5 (NCAA D-II playoffs) 3–1 (NCAA D-I-AA playoffs) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 5 Western Football (1987–1989, 1991, 1992) 1 Big Sky (1994) | |
Ernest Duncan "Pokey" Allen Jr. (January 23, 1943 – December 30, 1996) was an American football player and coach in the United States and Canada. He played college football for the Utah Utes before going on to play professionally for the BC Lions and the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in the 1960s.
Allen began a coaching career after retiring as a player in 1968. His early assistant and position coaching jobs included several NCAA football teams and the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League. He was the head coach at Portland State University from 1986 to 1992 and at Boise State University from 1993 to 1996, compiling a career college football record of 87–41–2 (.677). Allen led Portland State to consecutive appearances in the Division II championship game in 1987 and 1988 and guided Boise State to the Division I-AA title game in 1994.
In 1994, Allen was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of muscle cancer. He continued coaching until shortly before his death in 1996.