John’s wrestling journey began in eighth grade, when he met Coach Sam McWoodson, his first role model. He lost his first match in 30 seconds. Coach McWoodson reassured him that he would be a state champ if he worked hard.

Entering high school, he grew under Head Coach Joe Gicobbe and Assistant Coach Eric Phillips, a former UT Chattanooga wrestler fresh out of college. Coach Phillips took a special interest in John and took him to wrestling camps outside the local area.. It was his first time travelling outside of Miami since arriving from Haiti. These experiences also, crucially, revealed to him the world beyond his hometown. This later became a tradition for him as a coach to expose young wrestlers to more of the country.

During his senior year, John suffered a setback when he broke both the tibia and fibula in his right leg during football practice. With his season and scholarship hopes in doubt, he committed fully to recovery. By December, despite pain, he returned to the mat. Five weeks later, John won the Florida State Championship at 152 pounds. He went on to represent Team Florida at Dapper Dan and Fargo, earning opportunities to wrestle in college with scholarships.

John chose UT Chattanooga, where he wrestled for five years while earning a degree in Business Management with a minor in Human Resources. After graduation, he returned to Miami and became an assistant alongside Coach Phillips at Dr. Krop High School. What was supposed to be one year as an assistant became a legacy. John became a math teacher, a head coach at North Miami Beach High School and eventually his alma mater North Miami Senior High, where his mission has always been to help wrestlers become productive citizens.

He has coached state champions, 34 state placers, and more than 50 state qualifiers, including his children, Adonis and Isis. Among his proudest achievements are Daniel Leon, North Miami’s first state champion since John in 1994, and Mya Bethel, Florida’s greatest female wrestler, a four-time state champion with a 105-0 career record.