john hayden fry (february 28, 1929 – december 17, 2019) was an american football player and coach. he was the head football coach at the southern methodist university (smu) from 1962 to 1972. he was later the football coach at the university of iowa from 1979 to 1998. he had a career college football record of 232-178-10. fry also played college football at baylor university.