NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. — Joe Fusco, a legendary coach who led Westminster College’s football program to great success with four NAIA Division II national titles, has passed away, as announced by the college on Monday. He was 87 years old at the time of his death on Saturday in Farrell, Pennsylvania, though the cause has not been disclosed.
Fusco’s coaching tenure at Westminster spanned from 1972 to 1990, a period during which he steered the Titans to national championships in the years 1976, 1977, 1988, and 1989. His leadership helped the team secure an impressive run, winning 21 out of 22 games during the 1976-77 seasons. Additionally, under his guidance, the team achieved a remarkable streak with 27 consecutive victories during the 1988-89 seasons.
Over his career at Westminster, Fusco amassed a record of 154 wins, 34 losses, and 3 ties, translating to a stellar .814 winning percentage. His contributions and achievements were recognized in 2019 when he was honored as one of the 150 greatest coaches in college football’s 150-year history by ESPN. Fusco’s remarkable career also earned him a place in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.
Born and raised in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, Fusco was a player for Westminster as a lineman from 1957 to 1959. Prior to joining the college’s coaching staff, he gathered experience as a high school football coach. In 1968, he began his association with Westminster’s staff as an offensive line coach, eventually rising to become the head coach and leaving an indelible mark on the institution’s football legacy.
