Rich Parrinello ’72

COACH CONNECTION: A star football player as a student, Parrinello had a long connection to the Yellowjacket football program, including a nine-year stint as head coach. (Photograph: University Libraries/Department of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Perseveration)

Rich Parrinello loved the Rochester football program—so much so that he kept returning to it.

A nationally recognized player for the Yellowjackets, Parrinello served three stints as a coach—including as head coach from 1989 to 1997.

Parrinello, who died in June, compiled a 41–43 record in his nine years leading the program, including an 8–1 mark in 1992. As a player, he earned Associated Press Small College All-America honors his junior and senior seasons, setting a record for most career touchdowns with 30 (now fourth all-time). He still holds Rochester records for receiving yards per catch (21.3) and receiving touchdowns in a season (11).

He tried out for the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills, but his dream of a pro career didn’t materialize. Still, Parrinello found joy in teaching others the game.

Hired by legendary Rochester coach Pat Stark to coach the first-year team just months after graduating, he went on to coach at Rochester-area high schools, including his alma mater, Aquinas Institute.

Parrinello returned to the University in 1985 for a four-year run as an assistant under Ray Tellier. He was named head coach of the University of Chicago in 1988 but returned one year later to take over the Yellowjackets when Tellier resigned to take the head coaching job at Columbia University.

Parrinello is survived by his wife of 50 years, Kathy Parrinello ’75N, ’83N (MS), ’90W (PhD), the executive vice president and chief operating officer at Strong Memorial Hospital, and their sons, Michael, Jeffrey, and Stephen.