The University of Windsor is saddened by the news that legendary Lancer Football Head Coach Gino Fracas has passed away today. Coach Fracas was 79 years old.
Funeral services will take place on Tuesday, November 3rd at 10:30am at Assumption Church on the campus of the University of Windsor.
Visitation will take place at Families First Funeral Home (3260 Dougall Ave.) on Sunday, November 1st from 7pm to 9pm and on Monday, November 2nd from 3pm to 5pm and 7pm to 9pm.
One of the most well known and well respected individuals in Canadian Football history, Gino coached at the University of Windsor for 19 years from 1968 to 1986 where he founded the Lancer Football program.
Born on April 28, 1930, Fracas was an all-city halfback at Assumption High School and helped lead them to championships in 1948 and 1949.
From there, he went on to star at the University of Western Ontario as a two way player and was selected as an all-star in 1952, 1953 and 1954. He also helped lead the Mustangs to back to back Yates Cup championships in 1952 and 1953.
A first round draft choice of the Ottawa Roughriders in 1954, his eight-year pro football career excelled with the Edmonton Eskimos where he won two Grey Cups in 1955 and 1956. He was a team captain, defensive signal caller and known for being one of the toughest linebackers in the CFL.
Following his playing career, Gino went on to become the Head Coach at the University of Alberta where he led the Golden Bears to three league championships in four years. In 1963, his team won the Golden Bowl as university national champions.
After returning to Windsor, he became the first ever Head Coach of the University of Windsor Lancer Football program. He led the Lancers to the CCIFC championship in 1969, an OUAA Championship in 1975 and he was the OUAA coach of the year in both 1976 and 1977.
For his all-around excellence on the football field, Coach Fracas became an inaugural member of the OUA Football Legends Wall of Fame as a player, coach and administrator. In addition, the CIS Football Volunteer Coach of the Year is named in his honour.
In 1987, Gino also received the prestigious Football Canada/CFL Award of Merit for outstanding lifetime contribution to football in Canada. In all, he has been inducted into six different halls of fame, including the University of Windsor Alumni Sports Hall of Fame.
The Lancers have recognized his tremendous contributions to the university by naming the University of Windsor Coach of the Year Award in his honour.
Also a professor at the university, Gino was one of the most well known figures both on campus and in the community. In 1995, Gino retired after 28 successful years from the Faculty of Human Kinetics.
Coach Fracas is survived by his wife Leona.
