Frank Serrao
Biographical details
Born(1918-08-10)August 10, 1918
DiedMay 6, 1991(1991-05-06) (aged 72)
San Bernardino, California
Playing career
Football
1939–1940Bucknell
Position(s)Fullback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1948Rutherford HS (NJ) (backfield)
1949–1952Rutherford HS (NJ)
1954–1956Redlands HS (CA) (assistant)
1957–1963Redlands HS (CA)
1964–1983Redlands
Head coaching record
Overall115–80–1 (college football)
Tournaments1–1 (NAIA D-II playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
9 SCIAC (1966, 1970, 1973–1978, 1980)

Frank Serrao (August 10, 1918 – May 6, 1991) was an American football coach. He served as the head football coach at Redlands University in Redlands, California from 1964 to 1983, compiling a record of 115–80–1. Serrao led his 1976 Redlands team to the title game of the NAIA Division II Football National Championship, losing to Joe Fusco's Westminster Titans.

Serrao attended Rutherford High School in Rutherford, New Jersey, where he played football as a fullback and linebacker and captained the 1936 team. Jim Blumenstock, who later played college football at Fordham University and professionally with the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL), was a teammate of Serrao on Rutherford's football squad. Serrao also participated in track at Rutherford. He was the shot put champion of the North Jersey League for two years. His farthest throw was 48 feet (15 m), but he lost out by six inches at a state meet to Monte Irvin, who went on to play professional baseball in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball (MLB). After graduating from Rutherford, Serrao moved on to Bucknell University, lettering for two seasons on the Bucknell Bison football team and playing mostly as a fullback. He also lettered three times on the track team, competing in the shot put. Serrao graduated from Bucknell in 1941 and joined the Army Air Forces in July 1942, serving as a mechanic and reaching the rank of staff sergeant.[1]

Serrao earned a master's degree in physical education at New York University and then began his coaching career in 1948 at his alma mater, Rutherford High School, working as backfield coach under George Melinkovich. Serrao succeed Melinkovich as head coach in 1949 when Melinkovich left to become head football coach at Utah State University. Serrao also coached basketball and track at Rutherford.[2]

Serrao died on May 6, 1991, at St. Bernardine Medical Center in San Bernardino, California following complications from open-heart surgery performed two weeks prior.[3]

Head coaching record

College football

Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Redlands Bulldogs (Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1964–1983)
1964 Redlands 5–43–12nd
1965 Redlands 4–62–2T–3rd
1966 Redlands 7–34–11st
1967 Redlands 5–53–2T–2nd
1968 Redlands 5–53–23rd
1969 Redlands 7–23–12nd
1970 Redlands 6–43–1T–1st
1971 Redlands 2–81–46th
1972 Redlands 5–54–12nd
1973 Redlands 8–15–01st
1974 Redlands 7–25–01st
1975 Redlands 7–2–14–0–1T–1st
1976 Redlands 10–25–01stL NAIA Division II Championship
1977 Redlands 6–35–01st
1978 Redlands 9–15–01st
1979 Redlands 3–63–2T–2nd
1980 Redlands 6–45–01st
1981 Redlands 5–53–23rd
1982 Redlands 4–63–2T–3rd
1983 Redlands 4–62–3T–3rd
Redlands: 115–80–171–24–1
Total:115–80–1
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. Olson, Rusty (July 6, 1949). "Serrao, new Rutherford, Coach, Will Shelve 'T' Formation In Favor Of Single Wingback". Herald News. Passaic, New Jersey. p. 21. Retrieved December 3, 2020 via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  2. West, Richard (March 18, 1964). "Serrao named U. R. head football coach". Redlands Daily Facts. Redlands, California. p. 1. Retrieved December 3, 2020 via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  3. Oberjuerge, Paul (May 8, 1991). "Former Redlands Coach Serrao Dies". The San Bernardino Sun. San Bernardino, California. p. 30. Retrieved December 3, 2020 via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
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