Michigan high school football: Al Fracassa, famed Birmingham Brother Rice coach, dies at 92

Former Birmingham Brother Rice football coach Al Fracassa, one of the winningest and longest-tenured coaches in Michigan high school football history, died on Sunday, Sept. 7, the school announced. He was 92.

Fracassa began coaching at Royal Oak Shrine in 1960 and took over at Brother Rice in 1969. He remained as a coach in the Catholic League through 2013, amassing a 430-117-7 record in 54 years on the sidelines. Fracassa's 430 wins are second-most in state history, trailing former Farmington Hills Harrison coach John Herrington at 436.

After eight seasons at Shrine, Fracassa moved to Brother Rice. Fracassa led Brother Rice to nine MHSAA state championships in 45 years as the Warriors' coach. Brother Rice won the 1977, 1980, 1983 and 1990 Class A championships, and the 2000, 2005, 2011, 2012 and 2013 Division 2 state titles. Fracassa retired as the winningest coach in state history at the time following three straight championships from 2011-13.

Fracassa led thousands of Brother Rice Students in his five decades of coaching and teaching. His teams were known for their passing and tough defense, with hundreds of players reaching the college level and a handful reaching the NFL.

"There will never be another coach Fracassa," Bloomfield Hills coach Scott Merchant said Sunday.

Merchant played three seasons at Brother Rice (1987-89), coached with Fracassa after and coached against him when Merchant was at U-D Jesuit.

"It's a sad day. It's a sad day, not only for Brother Rice," Merchant said, "but for the entire state of Michigan and the high school football community."

We are heartbroken to announce the passing of Coach Al Fracassa, a legendary leader, mentor, and unwavering champion of the Brother Rice community.

For over five decades, Coach Fracassa was much more than just a coach; he was a cornerstone of our school. With a record that ranks… pic.twitter.com/hu2Zdw5Kk1— Brother Rice HS (@BroRiceWarriors) September 7, 2025

Fracassa was a 1951 graduate of Detroit Northwestern and was an all-city football and baseball player, according to the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association. Fracassa attended Michigan State from 1951-55 and played quarterback. He was a member of the Spartans' 1952 national championship and 1954 Rose Bowl teams.

After a brief stint in the Army and teaching at other schools in metro Detroit, Fracassa arrived at Royal Oak Shrine, where he amassed a 44-19-5 record in eight seasons. He moved to Brother Rice in 1969, where he won 386 games. Fracassa is a member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.

The last game he coached was a 38-21 win over Muskegon in the 2013 Division 2 state championship game.

"He's a special, special guy," Merchant said. "I love him and I am going to miss him."

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Jared Ramsey covers high school sports for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jramsey@freepress.com; Follow Jared on X or Bluesky.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Al Fracassa, famed Birmingham Brother Rice coach, dies at 92