On Friday, September 4th the LeRoy Football Community will be honoring former Head Coach Frank Ruane. The celebration will take place in a pre-game ceremony prior to the 2009 season opener versus Livonia. A permanent marker will be placed in the garden located in the north end zone. All of his former players are invited to join us on the field for the ceremony.

Coach Ruane passed away this past February (2009) at the age of 88. During his tenure at LeRoy (1975-1983), Frank compiled a record of 53-25-2. He led two of his teams (1980, 1982) to the Section V Finals. It is important to note that sectional play did not start until 1978. Through 1981, only two teams from each class (only 3 classes at that time) qualified for sectional play (total of six teams in Section V).

Coach Ruane will always be beloved by his former players as a man of integrity and class. He taught us life lessons that many of us didn’t realize until we were adults. His “old school” mentality didn’t always make sense to us when we were young, but now we all can deeply respect those values.

While at LeRoy, Frank was also the basketball coach and athletic director. His 1980 team finished with a record of 19-1. His 1981 and 1982 teams made it to the sectional finals.

In 1984 LeRoy won its first Section V Football Championship. Many of the key players on that squad were players Frank had groomed the previous two seasons. Some years later Coach Ruane was asked why he retired when he did, knowing how strong a team was in place for the 1984 season. Frank knew how the LeRoy community held their football in high regards; he wanted to make sure his replacement got started off on the right path. For those who knew Coach well, that response was so typical of his character, high regard for others and little need for self acclaim.

Prior to coming to LeRoy, Frank had coaching stints in Peru, Carthage, and Plattsburgh, New York. He also coached in Caledonia before coming to LeRoy. While at Caledonia (1968-1974), his football teams were 38-17-1. His Red Raider teams shut LeRoy out four straight years (1968, 69, 70, 71).

Frank was born and raised in Ithaca, New York. He was headed to the University of Notre Dame on a football scholarship after graduating from high school. His plans at South Bend were derailed when he was drafted into the Army during World War II.

After the war he returned to Ithaca where he attended and graduated from Ithaca College. Frank made Ithaca after his permanent home after retiring from LeRoy in 1984.

An avid sports fan, Frank spent most of his weekends in the fall attending Ithaca and University of Notre Dame football games. He was also a long time season ticket holder for the Buffalo Bills. In addition, Coach took the time to attend many of his former players’ college football and basketball games. Although he had no children of his own, Coach Ruane viewed his former athletes as his boys and took great pride in their accomplishments.

Frank took great enjoyment watching his nieces and nephews participate in sporting events around the Ithaca area. He also enjoyed golfing. During his lifetime, Coach Ruane golfed on all of the courses of the British Open. This is something he was very proud of.

This ceremony is long over due. I only wished we could have honored Coach Ruane while he was still with us. I really hope many of his former players can come out on September 4th to show our deep thanks to such a fine man.

Jim Bonacquisti