Ten years ago, Al Fracassa retired as a history and physical education teacher at Birmingham Brother Rice High School to continue to do what he's always had a passion for: teaching.
This is not a contradiction. What confuses some is the distinction between teaching a room of students and coaching these same students in a particular sport. A person instructs; students learn. Fracassa has never been confused by this fact.
After 53 years coaching high school football and 40 as head coach at Brother Rice, Fracassa retains the passion he had for a sport he played in the late 1940s at Detroit Northeastern High School and at Michigan State University in the early 1950s.
The Joe Paterno of Michigan high school football, Fracassa has won more games (381) than any coach in state history. His teams have won eight state titles and 12 Catholic League titles. Fracassa has been inducted into seven halls of fame, including the NFL High School Coach of the Year Award in 1997.
"I was tough in the beginning," Fracassa says. "I was at Michigan State, then went into the service. I got out, and I expected everyone to be like me or the guys I played with. It took me a long time to become more patient. Instead of being negative, I became more positive."
Vic Michaels, director of athletics for the Detroit Catholic League, has known Fracassa for 40 years. He says it is Fracassa's integrity that sets him apart.
"When I first met Al ... I was impressed by how sincere he was. He's just a gentle man. I'll bet you can't find anyone who will say anything bad about him. That's rare for someone who's had that type of success. But you talk to the coaches he's coached against, and none will say anything bad about him. It's his integrity."
Trophies and plaques crowd Fracassa's office at Brother Rice and remind him of past glories and triumphs. Sharing the spaces on the walls and shelves are photographs of former players.
Therein lies the treasure of coaching. The players represent the lives Fracassa impacted as well as those who went on to play in college and professionally, such as Brian Brennan, Mike Lodish and Steve Morrison. P.J. Prunty is likely an unfamiliar name to even the most fervent Brother Rice football fan, but Fracassa remembers Prunty, a member of the '69 team, Fracassa's first at Brother Rice, playing guitar before practice. A recent telephone call from Prunty revived those memories. "Those are the things they can't take from you," Fracassa says.
During his playing days, Fracassa was a quarterback. For the past 40 years, he has hosted a summer quarterback camp across the state. He also has produced DVDs that focus on improving football skills. However, Fracassa's greatest satisfaction derives from knowing his players became doctors, attorneys or high school football coaches, like Scott Merchant (Clinton Township Chippewa Valley High School) and Aaron Metz (Howell High School).
"Practices -- that's my favorite time," Fracassa says. "I love it more than the games. I love the interviews with each of the players, individually. Sometimes you have to interview one, two, three or more times. ... You have to watch what button you push."
The teaching never stops.
Tom Markowski / The Detroit News
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