ITHACA, N.Y. – Larry Czarnecki '76, an All-American defensive lineman of the Ithaca College football program and former assistant coach for football and track & field, passed away on November 23.

Services for Czarnecki have been scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 30, at 1 p.m. at Grace Christian Fellowship in Cortland. There will be a Celebration of Life to follow. Interment will be at St. Francis Cemetery in Nanticoke, Pa., in the spring.

Czarnecki was an Associated Press and American Football Coaches Association First-Team All-American in 1975 during his senior season when he served as a captain. To this day, he still owns the school record for most assisted tackles in a game with 18.

During his time as a player (1973-75), Ithaca went 25-6 and reached back-to-back Stagg Bowls in 1974 and 1975, as well as helping Ithaca earn to Lambert trophies. Czarnecki also competed on Ithaca's track & field club team and played semi-pro football with the Scranton Stars (1976-78) and Binghamton Jets (1979-80).

The 1975 team went 10-1 on the year and won five games by shutout. In one of those shutouts, a 61-0 win over Springfield, Ithaca's defense set Division III records for fewest total yards allowed (minus 50) and fewest rushing yards allowed (minus 94). In the playoffs, the Bombers topped Fort Valley and Widener before losing to Wittenberg, 28-0.

Czarnecki was also a long-time coach at Ithaca (1985-97) for the football and track & field programs before moving on to coach at Cortland. He was the offensive line coach during Ithaca's 1988 and 1991 national championship seasons.

He spent more than 20 years as a football and track & field coach at Cortland. Czarnecki was an interim head coach for track & field in 1998-99 before taking over the program from 2000-02. He led the women's team to SUNYAC indoor and outdoor championships and was named the league's Coach of the Year in 98-99. From 1983-85, Czarnecki served as the head coach for football at Cortland.

In 1998, the Ithaca track & field teams initiated a "Larry Czarnecki Field Athlete Award", which was presented to senior field athlete who has shown continuous improvement throughout their years at Ithaca College while demonstrating the dedication and sportsmanship that Coach Czarnecki expected of his athletes.

Czarnecki received a Bachelor of Science in physical education from Ithaca in 1976 and his master's degree in the same field the following year.



"I had the privilege of being an offensive lineman with Coach Czar as my position coach for the 1992-94 Ithaca football seasons," said Jim Ragusa '95.

"'Chief' as he was referred to, was a stickler for detail. He held us accountable for every play with his 'grading system'. He was demanding but fair and we loved him for it. He rarely lost composure but when he was excited, it was particularly motivating (and a little frightening to be honest). The big red Cadillac would pull into Ceracche Center and you knew the Chief was in the house. Upon learning I was nervous to take my first flight (to play Washington and Jefferson late in the 1993 season). He called me into the office to assure me all would be ok and reminded to just relax and breathe and let the air vent cool me down. Coach Czar impacted so many of us, the lessons continue to serve me in life. We are all better people because of the impact Coach Czar had on our lives."
 
"I had not seen coach for many years but did see him at the Cortaca game at MetLife Stadium on Nov. 16th. I am very glad I got to see him. He will be missed. His legacy will live on. My sincere condolences to the Czarnecki Family," Ragusa concluded.