Vince DiFrancesca, 85, college football coaching great, died on May 21, 2007 in Virginia where he resided with Janet and Craig Parshall, his daughter and son-in-law. His son John, of Chicago, also survives Vince. His wife, Margaret and his son Charles predeceased him. In college, Vince played on the Northwestern University football team, was the team captain, was a member of the All-Star squad and played in the East-West game. During World War II he played on the Air Force All-Star team. The head football coach at Western Illinois, he took a 1-10 team and achieved a spectacular 10-1 record in his first year, compiling an overall record of 38-7-1. Also the head coach at Iowa State University, and later Athletic Director and head football coach at Carroll College in Wisconsin, Vince joined an elite group in America who achieved a career record of 100 or more game victories. He was known and loved by men who joined the ranks of professional football, but Vince is best remembered for his impact on the lives of his players and the men he led, both by his extraordinary example and his life-changing counsel. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL.
