Frank Girardi

Frank Girardi (born July 16, 1939) is an American former football player and coach. He was the head football coach at Lycoming College from 1972 to 2007, compiling a record of 257–97–5. At the time of his retirement in 2007, he was the fifth winningest NCAA football coach.

Early years Girardi attended Williamsport High School in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where he played at the running back position on the school's football team. He subsequently attended West Chester University, where he also played running back for the football team. He became Lycoming's head football coach in 1972 and remained in that position for 36 years. From 1972 to 2007, Girardi compiled a record of 257–97–5. His teams won 13 Middle Atlantic Conference championships and earned 11 NCAA Division III playoff bids and trips to championship games in 1990 and 1997. Girardi later recalled that his team lost that first game 39-0: "That was the start of my college coaching career. Our house burned down and we were beaten 39-0. I think the 39-0 hurt me more." When Lycoming advanced to the national championship game, The New York Times reported, "Wearing shoes borrowed from Penn State and playing defense like Penn State, the undefeated Warriors of Lycoming College upset previously undefeated Hofstra ..."

Over the course of his 36 years as Lycoming's head football coach, Girardi coached his two sons and two grandsons as players on the football team. Girardi later recalled, "The College has always been great to me. I grew up in Williamsport. This is home and I love the area. Anytime other opportunities came up, whenever I compared them, Lycoming always won. It didn't take me long to realize that this was the place I wanted to be until I retire.... It's been a real family situation, and that's the way I tried to run the football program, just like a family. I treated all the players like family and they responded." saying, "I asked two questions. First, can you continue to lead this program at the highest levels, and of course I can. But can you do it at the level you've set for yourself? I set the bar too high to feel like if I can't do it at anytime I'm not being true to myself, the team and Lycoming College." Lycoming president Dr. James E. Douthat praised Girardi's contributions to the college, "Coach G, as most of his players call him, is a legendary figure. He has etched a nationally respected, winning tradition in the town where he was raised. In the world of NCAA Division III football, the name Frank Girardi is synonymous with class and success, both on and off the field."

At the time of his retirement, Girardi ranked fifth in wins among active NCAA football coaches and second among active NCAA Division III coaches. In 2016, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, the first coach or player from Lycoming College to receive this honor.

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