St. John's Football Coach Bob Ricca Passes Away at 79

Bob Ricca, who served as the head coach of St. John's football for nearly three decades, passed away over the weekend at the age of 79, as announced by the university on Monday.

Ricca was at the helm from 1974 until the program was disbanded in 2002, during which he transformed the team into a competitive force, achieving 15 winning seasons and securing seven conference championships, including the 1994 ECAC title. He was recognized as conference Coach of the Year three times and had four players inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame.

Vice President and Director of Athletics Ed Kull expressed sadness over Ricca's passing, noting his significant impact on student-athletes and the loyalty of the football alumni. Ricca's wake is scheduled for Friday, followed by a funeral mass on Saturday.