Summit League Top 30 Distinguished Contributors: F.L. "Frosty" Ferzacca

9/7/2011 12:00:00 AM

F.L. "FROSTY" FERZACCA
Mid-Continent Conference (Commissioner)
Years: 1982-1988

BIO

First commissioner of the Association of Mid-Continent Universities and presided over league's move to Division I in 1982 ... Instrumental in securing an automatic bid for the conference in the NCAA Tournament ... Named the Director of Athletics at Eastern Michigan University in 1965, where he spent eight years and guided the institution to 16 national titles ... Guided EMU's move up to major college status and entry as member of the Mid-American Conference while A.D. ... Spent one year as Florida International University's athletic director in 1974 ... Successful basketball and football coach at the high school level in Wisconsin ... Began his career in collegiate athletics as head football coach at Marquette University (1954-55) ... Worked in the Green Bay Packers front office for one year ... Took over as the head football coach at Northern Michigan University in 1957 and compiled a 55-19-2 record in eight seasons ... Named as the Associated Press and NAIA Coach of the Year during his final season (1965), collecting his second AP and fourth NAIA honor at NMU .... Inducted into five athletic halls of fame (EMU, NMU, Lake Forest College, Michigan Upper Peninsula Hall of Fame and the Wisconsin Sports Hall of Fame) .... Was a charter member of the Green Bay Packers and National Football League Alumni ... Earned his undergraduate degree from Lake Forest College and completed his master's degree at the University of Wisconsin .... Was a three-sport athlete (football, basketball and track) at Lake Forest College ... Died in 2004 at the age of 96.

HIGHLIGHTS

-First commissioner of Association of Mid-Continent Universities (now Summit League)
-Presided over league's move to Division I in 1982
-Secured an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the conference champion
-Served as Athletic Director at Eastern Michigan and Florida International
-Was head football coach at Marquette and Northern Michigan
-Four-time NAIA Coach of the Year and two-time AP Coach of the Year
-Worked in the Green Bay Packers' front office
-Inducted into five athletic halls of fame

Be sure to check The Summit League website throughout the 2011-12 season for profiles on each member of the Top 30 Distinguished Contributors list. Additional content will also be added as part of The Summit League's 30th Anniversary Season celebration.

Summit League Top 30 Distinguished Contributors | Summit League 30th Anniversary Home Page