Frederick Paul Mariani

Frederick Paul Mariani, an unforgettable father, son, brother, coach, mentor, and friend, passed away peacefully with his daughter Brook by his side on August 17, 2024. He is survived by the most important people in his life - Brook, his mother Ann, granddaughters Mia and Penelope, and sister Irene - as well as thousands of grateful men that he recruited, coached, and mentored.

Born February 25, 1952, to Anthony and Ann Mariani in Brooklyn, New York, Coach Fred was raised in a loving home by his parents, who adored their son and gave him a zest for life that he carried with him until the very end.

Coach Fred peaked at 5'7" tall but was a giant in any crowd, oozing authenticity, passion, and dedication. A proud Italian American, he was committed and compassionate. Fiery and even keeled. Loving and demanding.

He had beautiful blue eyes but was as tough as a two-dollar steak, surviving a heart attack in his 30s and another in his 50s. He was also relentless, especially in loving his family and recruiting and coaching young people.

Coach Fred was also multi-faceted. He appreciated wildlife and was a skilled fisherman who loved being on a boat with the wind blowing through his hair, especially when he was with Brook, Ann, Mia, and Penelope. He was passionate about cooking and conversation and some of his favorite moments were summer days with his beloved family in Montauk, N.Y., just before football training camp.

Raised in Teaneck and Upper Saddle River, N.J., Coach Fred attended - and excelled - at Don Bosco Preparatory High School, where he was a star guard on the Ironmen football team and won two state championships. That led to a scholarship at Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Ind., with his devoted parents making the long drive from New Jersey every weekend to see Coach play. He did Anthony and Ann proud on and off the field while setting high standards for Coach Bill Jennings, a dear mentor and friend who passed away in 2023.

A proud Saint Joseph's Puma, Coach Fred wore his 1971 Indiana Collegiate Conference championship ring his entire adult life. After graduation, he spent two years on the coaching staff there while earning his master's degree from Purdue University. And, in typically "Coach Fred style," he stayed in close contact with many of his former St. Joe's teammates and players until his passing.

After leaving Indiana, Coach Fred embarked on a remarkable journey that took him to Division I football coaching jobs in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New York, and his native New Jersey over four decades, influencing hundreds of young men and fellow coaches. And, wherever he roamed the sidelines - Morehead State, Lehigh, Iona, Fordham, or Rutgers - his beloved daughter Brook was nearby. He spoke about her incessantly and she became like a sister to Coach's players.

He recruited players and coached them with equal fervor, pouring time and energy into every young man he met. Coach was also a devout student of the game with encyclopedic football knowledge, yet his greatest talent was his unique ability to connect with players from all walks of life, individually and collectively. Even in his 60s as he was closing out his coaching career at Don Bosco, his high school alma mater, he was able to relate to the young men that he coached and they, like many, viewed him as a father figure. His Ironmen players even had shirts created with Coach pictured on the front, displaying two of the sayings he long preached to his offensive linemen: "Knee Bend" and "Set, Squat, Jam."

In his final days, his four angels - Brook, Mia, Penelope, and Ann - remained on his mind. He often called his mother from the rehabilitation center where he stayed for much of the past year, Family of Caring at Ridgewood, and he treasured every visit from Brook and his granddaughters. And his eyes still lit up when one of his former players or fellow coaches came to visit, often to thank Coach for all he did for them.

Coach Fred may be gone from this world physically, but his spirit lives on through his devoted family, former players, and fellow coaches. He was one of a kind and everyone who crossed his path is truly blessed to have known him.

Brook, Ann, Penelope, and Mia thank the many dedicated women and men who cared for Coach at Family of Caring at Ridgewood. Their kindness, love, patience, and attention to every detail of Coach's care will never be forgotten.

A funeral mass will be held this Saturday, August 24th, at St. Gabriel the Archangel's Catholic Church in Saddle River, NJ, where Coach Fred was long a proud parishioner. Former players and coaches are invited to dress in a way that connects them to Coach, including the famed "Knee Bend" t-shirts. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Mia and Penelope Chiodo College Fund, 647 Godwin Ave., Midland Park, NJ 07432.