Photographer: Daryl St. Arno
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Posted: 12/09/2012
BIRMINGHAM, Mich. - When Brother Rice won its second consecutive state championship last month, many believed it would be the last game Al Fracassa would ever coach.
He had other plans.
The legendary 80-year old coach announced at the team’s banquet Sunday he will return for another season in 2013.
"Next year will be my 45th and final season," he said Sunday.
Fracassa has guided the Warriors to nine state championships in 44 seasons at Brother Rice. He has coached for 53 years total. The back-to-back titles his team won the past two seasons were the first in his tenure.
The winningest coach in Michigan high school football history has collected a 416-121-7 record.
After the Warriors win against Muskegon last month, Fracassa told 7 Action News he, as usual, had to talk to his wife about the decision to return or retire.
Brother Rice went 12-2 this past season, beating Muskegon in the state championship.
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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