Joe Fusco

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Joe Fusco
Biographical details
Born (1938-02-03) February 3, 1938 (age 83)
Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania
Playing career
1957–1959Westminster (PA)
Position(s)Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1960–1966Wilmington Area HS (PA)
1967Grove City Area HS (PA)
1968–1971Westminster (PA) (assistant)
1972–1990Westminster (PA)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1985–1999Westminster (PA)
Head coaching record
Overall154–34–3 (college)
55–14–3 (high school)
Tournaments19–5 (NCAA D-II playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
4 NAIA Division II (1976–1977, 1988–1989)
Awards
2× NAIA Division II Coach of the Year (1988–1989)
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2001 (profile)

Joseph B. Fusco (born February 3, 1938) is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head coach at Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania from 1972 to 1990, compiling a record of 154–34–3. Fusco was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2001.

Fusco had a lifetime association with Westminster College. He was guard on the football team from 1957 to 1959, assistant coach from 1968 to 1971, head coach from 1972 to 1990, and athletic director from 1985 to 1999. His other coaching duties were at Wilmington Area High School and Grove City Area Area High School, where he had a 55–14–3 record from 1960 to 1967.[1] In 19 years at Westminster, his teams were ranked in the NAIA top 20 15 times, made in the NAIA Division II playoffs nine times, had a 27-game winning streak, and won four NAIA Division II Football National Championships, in 1976, 1977, 1988, and 1989. His record as head coach at Westminster was 154–34–3, a winning percentage of .814. His 1977 team won the Lambert Cup as the best small-college team in the East.

Fusco graduated from Westminster in 1960, added a master's degree in education in 1965 and a doctorate in education from the University of Pittsburgh in 1980. In addition to the College Football Hall of Fame, Fusco is in the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, Western Pennsylvania Hall of Fame, Lawrence County Hall of Fame, and NAIA Hall of Fame.

Head coaching record[]

College[]

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Westminster Titans (NAIA Division II independent) (1972–1990)
1972 Westminster 7–1
1973 Westminster 7–1
1974 Westminster 7–2
1975 Westminster 6–1–1
1976 Westminster 10–1 W NAIA Division II Championship
1977 Westminster 11–0 W NAIA Division II Championship
1978 Westminster 6–2–1
1979 Westminster 4–5
1980 Westminster 5–3
1981 Westminster 10–1 L NAIA Division II Semifinal
1982 Westminster 9–2 L NAIA Division II Semifinal
1983 Westminster 9–2 L NAIA Division II Semifinal
1984 Westminster 5–2–1
1985 Westminster 5–4
1986 Westminster 6–3
1987 Westminster 9–2 L NAIA Division II Quarterfinal
1988 Westminster 14–0 W NAIA Division II Championship
1989 Westminster 13–0 W NAIA Division II Championship
1990 Westminster 11–2 L NAIA Division II Championship
Westminster: 154–34–3
Total: 154–34–3
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References[]

  1. ^ Mollica, Pete (April 25, 1968). "Sports beat—Fusco on Familiar Ground". New Castle News. New Castle, Pennsylvania. p. 23. Retrieved November 5, 2019 – via Newspapers.com open access.

External links[]

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