Vince DiFrancesca
 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 1, 1922 Melrose Park, Illinois |
| Died | May 21, 2007 (aged 85) Maurertown, Virginia |
| Playing career | |
| Position(s) | Guard |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1959–1971 | Carroll (WI) |
| 1954–1956 | Iowa State |
| 1949–1953 | Western Illinois |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 106–71–7 |
Vincent DiFrancesca (January 1, 1922 – May 21, 2007) was a college football player and coach. His total career coaching record was 106 wins, 71 losses, and 7 ties.
Playing career
DiFrancesca was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 31st round of the 1947 NFL Draft.[1]
Coaching career
Western Illinois
DiFrancesca was the head football coach for the Western Illinois University Leathernecks located in Macomb, Illinois and he held that position for five seasons, from 1949 until 1953. His career coaching record at Western Illinois was 38 wins, 7 losses, and 1 ties. As of completion of the 2007 season, this ranks him seventh at Western Illinois in total wins and first at Western Illinois in winning percentage.[2] Under DiFrancesca's leadership, Western's team was ranked among the best offensive and defensive teams in the nation for five years.[3]
Iowa State University
DiFrancesca was also the head coach at Iowa State University from 1954 to 1958.[4] he was the 21st head coach for the Cyclones in Ames, Iowa. His coaching record at Iowa state was 6 wins, 21 losses, and 1 ties. As of completion of the 2007 season, this ranks him 19th at Iowa state in total wins and 28th at Iowa state in winning percentage.[5]
Carroll College
DiFrancesca's final head coaching job was as the 22nd head football coach for the Carroll College Pioneers located in Waukesha, Wisconsin and he held that position for thirteen seasons, from 1959 until 1971. His record at Carroll College was a more successful 62 wins, 43 losses, and 5 ties. As of completion of the 2006 season, this ranks him second at Carroll College in total wins and tenth at Carroll College in winning percentage.[4]
DiFrancesca also served as athletic director while he was head football coach.[4] He was inducted into the Carroll College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.[6]
Personal life
DiFrancesca died in May 2007 and was the father of both national radio talkshow host Janet Parshall of Janet Parshall's America and the late Charlie DiFrancesca, the subject of the book "Charlie Di: The Story of The Legendary Bond Trader", by William D. Fallon.[1] And, his youngest son John Di Francesca. DiFrancesca also had a wife Margret, who was a proud Icelandic, Baptist, Republican who converted Vince to her beliefs. The Di Francesca family came from Italy, lived in Evanston, Illinois on Ashland Ave. Raised Roman Catholic, mother Elizabeth Farina Di Francesca and father Salvatore, "Sam". Vince had two older brothers, Pete and Sam. All are deceased now.
References
- ^ a b In Memoriam, Spring 2008, Northwestern University
- ^ Western Illinois Coaching Records
- ^ Alumni Association: Community: Western Illinois University
- ^ a b c http://athletics.cc.edu/geninfo/pdf/Football_Individual_Records_Coaching_Records.pdf
- ^ Iowa State Coaching Records
- ^ "Carroll University Athletics Hall of Fame". Carroll University. Retrieved June 27, 2013.