Former Georgetown AD and one of the founding fathers of the BIg East, Frank Rienzo passed away this afternoon. I post this because he was also my uncle. He started out as a legendary HS teack coach in NYC and later became track coach at Georgetown before becoming AD there. He hired John Thompson as well as Frank Gagliano. Ironically “gags” was coaching at RU when he stole him away after my sophomore year. I was devastated since I had just finished a great sophomore year running at RU. How could my own uncle do this to me!?!? He told me he was the best coach and RU was vastly underpaying him. He went onto incredible success at Georgetown too so he made the right call
Being at RU in the 80s was great for me though as my uncle always set up my roommates and I with great seats for every Big East tourney at the garden. He even got us tickets for the 1985 final four. One of the biggest upsets in sports history and one of my most fun weekends while at RU. He helped make the Big East what it was and even appeared on the 30 for 30 they did on the BE.
He was ready to go but he will be missed. Truly one of the great all time ADs
Being at RU in the 80s was great for me though as my uncle always set up my roommates and I with great seats for every Big East tourney at the garden. He even got us tickets for the 1985 final four. One of the biggest upsets in sports history and one of my most fun weekends while at RU. He helped make the Big East what it was and even appeared on the 30 for 30 they did on the BE.
He was ready to go but he will be missed. Truly one of the great all time ADs