"A True Pitt Man," Foge Fazio Passes Away

Dec. 3, 2009

The University of Pittsburgh lost one of its finest ambassadors Wednesday when Serafino "Foge" Fazio passed away at the age of 71.

Fazio's deep Pitt ties included time as a player, an assistant and ultimately head coach for the Panthers.

"Foge was a true 'Pitt Man,'" said Panthers head coach Dave Wannstedt, who as a high school senior at Baldwin was recruited by Fazio to the University of Pittsburgh. "He loved this university and everyone at Pitt loved Foge. He was an outstanding football coach and an even better person. From the time I came back to Pittsburgh five years ago, no one has been a better friend or supporter of what we are doing at Pitt. He will be greatly missed."

Fazio was an All-East center and team MVP as a senior at Pitt in 1959. After playing for the Boston Patriots of the American Football League for one season, he would embark on a four-decade coaching career that included time in both the college and NFL ranks.

He would serve his alma mater as linebackers coach (1969-72; 1977-79), defensive coordinator (1979-81) and, ultimately, head coach (1982-85). Fazio was part of seven bowl teams at Pitt, including five that finished ranked among the nation's Top 10 at season's end.

As an NFL assistant, he served stints with the Falcons, Jets and Redskins and was the defensive coordinator of the Vikings (1996-98) and Browns (2001-02). He retired with Cleveland in 2003 but returned to pro ball two years later as a Vikings defensive consultant.

In recent years, Fazio distinguished himself as a knowledgeable radio analyst, first working for Westwood One's national broadcasts and then for the past two years working on the Pitt football radio team with Bill Hillgrove and Bill Fralic, who was a three-time All-America offensive tackle under Fazio from 1982-84.

"I don't know that anyone embodied the Pitt spirit better than Foge Fazio," said athletic director Steve Pederson, who approached Fazio about working Pitt broadcasts in 2007. "It was obvious from the first time that I met him how passionate he was about this university and its football program.

"Foge had the unique ability to make everyone he came in contact with feel special. In so many ways he represented all the great things associated with the University of Pittsburgh."

Although he had left the coaching ranks for the broadcast booth, Fazio dedicated time to helping Our Lady of Sacred Heart High School in Coraopolis start a football program that will begin play in 2010 under former Pitt quarterback Bill Daniels (1972-74).

Visitation and funeral arrangements are as follows:

Copeland Funeral Home

981 Broadhead Road

Moon Township, PA 15108

FRIDAY, DEC. 4:

7:00-9:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, DEC. 5:

2:00-4:00 p.m.

7:00-9:00 p.m.

SUNDAY, DEC. 6:

2:00-4:00 p.m.

7:00-9:00 p.m.