It’s sad night here in West Virginia. Native son Serafino “Foge” Fazio, a long-time college and NFL coach, has died.
Fazio served as head coach at Pitt from 1982 through 1985. After losing his job at Pitt, Fazio joined Lou Holtz at Notre Dame, serving as defensive coordinator in 1986 and 1987.
Fazio then jumped to the NFL, serving as a position coach with the Falcons and Jets. In 1996, he succeeded Tony Dungy as defensive coordinator of the Vikings. He served in that role through 1998, the team’s 15-1 season.
Fazio then spent a year as linebackers coach of the Redskins before becoming defensive coordinator of the Browns in 2001. He retired after the 2002 season, but he returned to the Vikings as a consultant to head coach Mike Tice.
Fazio, 71, had been battling cancer.
As a child, he had trouble pronouncing the word “fudge.” And so his nickname -- Foge -- was born, and it stuck.
