Cignetti closes out his 45-year coaching career

INDIANA -- Indiana (Pa.) football coach Frank Cignetti delivered his final postgame speech, joined hands with all the sad faces crowding around him in the locker room and ended one of the nation's most successful NCAA Division II coaching careers.

"Who we• IUP!" players shouted three consecutive times.

His voice cracking with emotion, all Cignetti could say was, "Great job, great job."

Cignetti retired following a 38-23 loss to California (Pa.) in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference game Saturday at Miller Stadium.

After 45 seasons on the sidelines, he knew it was time to go.

"The toughest decision was when am I going to tell these coaches and players," Cignetti said. "I wanted the game to be the focus this week. I've been thinking about this for three years."

Cignetti said he came back this year because of offseason problems involving players. He saw it as his responsibility to lead the program back in the right direction.

"When is the right time (to walk away) in this business?" Cignetti said with a laugh. "You always think you'll have that one more great season."

Cignetti lost to California (Pa.) for the first time in 20 games, which says something about his consistent success.

He retired one victory short of 200 as a college head coach. Naturally, he used that milestone to teach a final lesson about winning and losing.

"It's the relationships," he told the team. "You seniors, you did a great job, and I see nothing but good things ahead for you. You young guys, take advantage of all the opportunities all around you here.

"Wins and losses aren't important. The relationships are what's important. And it's been outstanding."

The team honored Cignetti by hanging a jersey with his name and the No. 20 at the entrance to the locker room.

Cignetti wore No. 86 when he played end for Indiana (Pa.) in the late 1950s, but that number already hangs on the wall. It was worn by IUP linebacker Jim Haslett, now head coach of the New Orleans Saints.

"My shirt will always be in that locker room with a 20 on it," Cignetti said.

Cignetti ended his 20th season at IUP with a 182-50-1 record.

Admired by many

Dozens of former players returned for Cignetti's final game.

"You can see what people felt about him by how many former players are on the sidelines today," IUP athletic director Frank Condino said.

Rich Ingold, a former IUP quarterback and assistant coach under Cignetti, returned and delivered the pregame speech.

"He was like a father figure," Ingold said. "He taught me how to respect and handle life situations."

Former player Mike Borisinko of Altoona viewed Cignetti as a general.

"We were his troops," Borisinko said. "Wherever he led, we followed. If you busted your butt for him, he took care of you. He taught us about life.

"He put Indiana on the map, Borisinko said. "IUP will never be the same."

Former IUP player Roger Evans of Morgantown said Cignetti didn't try to be everybody's friend.

"He had high expectations of you, and he would push you to attain them," Evans said.

Ray Nissen of Upper St. Clair started out at West Virginia, then transferred and finished his college football career under Cignetti.

"Coach Cignetti had integrity; he was honest and a hard worker," Nissen said. "That's why all these guys came back."

Cignetti received hugs and handshakes all around after the game, but he seemed most gratified by the return of his former players.

"So many of the old players came back and came into the locker room," he said. "They were our 12th man."

Despite the support all around him, Cignetti said he never took his focus off the game.

"When you have the headset on, you live and die on every play," he said.

Remembering the past

Cignetti finally took time to reflect as he sat back at a conference table less than an hour after the game.

Cignetti, 68, a Washington Township native, recalled working at every level of the game except the pros.

He started his career as a biology teacher and assistant coach at Leechburg High School in 1960. He moved up to head coach in 1962 and led Leechburg to the 1965 Class A WPIAL football championship.

"My first experience was at Leechburg, and we had a great run of players," he said. "We were a small school in a steel town, and we had tough kids. We played up (in Class A) by choice, and we had success.

"When you're a young coach, you have a ego, but you gain wisdom and realize it's the players."

Cignetti said his immediate plans include spending time with his family, particularly his two sons who have followed him into coaching.

Ruth Podbielski, retired IUP women's athletic director, had some advice for her retiring former co-worker.

"I've been retired for 19 years," Podbielski said. "Tell him it's great. He'll love it."

Winning over time

During the past 19 years, the IUP football program has marched along with a consistent record that would be the envy of teams at any level.

Cignetti's teams have won nine Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championships and five co-championships.

Overall, his teams are 199-77-1 for a .723 mark as a collegiate head coach, including a 17-27 mark at West Virginia from 1976-79.

His teams made 13 trips to the Division II playoffs and six appearances in the national semifinals, advancing to the championship game in 1991 and 1993.

The Indians lost to North Dakota State in the 1991 national championship and lost to North Alabama in the 1993 title game.

"He loved the competition," said Brashear graduate and former IUP player Tony Falci. "In 1993, we beat Liberty State. He was so happy, he kissed me on the helmet after I sacked their quarterback three times."

Cignetti retired with a 15-13 playoff record.

The Indians achieved undefeated regular seasons in 1991 and 1993 and climbed to No. 1 in the polls in 1991 and 1996.

Cignetti had 27 players selected to the Associate Press Division II All-America team and 11 chosen All-America by the American Football Coaches Association.

His teams were named ECAC Division II Team of the Year 11 times.

Cignetti was inducted into the IUP Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996, but his IUP coaching record was not considered because the hall's by-laws prohibit induction of a current coach or administrator.

Instead, he was inducted on the basis of his playing career. He was named an NAIA All-America end before graduating from IUP in 1960.

Cignetti also was inducted into the Armstrong County, Indiana County, Alle-Kiski Valley and Western Pennsylvania sports halls of fame.

Cignetti served as IUP athletic director from 1982-98 when he began raising funds to upgrade the football program.

Cignetti, who was battling back from cancer, stepped down as West Virginia's head coach in 1979 to become an administrative assistant to the athletic director. Cignetti led the stadium task force that laid the financial foundation for many of the Mountaineers' state-of-the-art football facilities.