A longtime college football coach has died at the age of 79. As reported by the New York Post, Bob Ricca was most well known for his long stint at St. John's.
The Vice President and Director of Athletics for the college, Ed Kull, announced his passing on Monday. "We were so saddened to hear of Coach Ricca's passing," he explained.
"He mentored a generation of highly successful student-athletes and our football alumni remain one of the most loyal and dedicated groups at the University."
"That can be attributed in no small part to Coach Ricca. We offer our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and former players."
Ricca's cause of death has remained undisclosed.
Ricca was the driving force behind St. John's becoming a notable school in college football. He was the program's head coach from 1974 all the way up until its disbanding in 2002.
He saw the team progress from the club level all the way up to Division III in 1978, as well as Division I-AA in 1983.
Ricca was an adept and dedicated coach for St. John's. Per Red Storm Sports, he won 15 campaigns and 7 championships in his career. He was also inducted into the St. John's Hall of Fame.
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The College Football Coaching Legend Reflected on His Time as Coach
The beloved college football coach explained that when he first arrived there, football wasn't really on the table for St. John's. "There's no question that basketball is still number one here," he explained at the time. "But we're beginning to generate some fan interest on our own merits; we're developing our own identity."
He also explained one of the biggest challenges for himself when coming to coach college football. "The biggest problem, by the time I arrived, was the lack of organization. The students were essentially our bosses, and they didn't have any administrative experience, so there were a lot of loose ends."
"But I learned a lot," he reflected. "In fact, I learned everything about operating a football team."
Rest in peace to a true legend. Our thoughts and prayers are with all who knew the coach.
