Joe Fortunato (coach)
Encyclopedia
Joe Fortunato is a former American football
, basketball
, and baseball
coach and college athletics administrator in the United States
. He served as the head football coach at Adrian College
from 1953 to 1955, tallying a mark of 8–17–1. Fortunato was also head baseball coach at the University of Toledo
from 1952 to 1953 and at Adrian in 1954, compiling a career college baseball
record of 11–26. In addition, he served as the head basketball coach at Upper Iowa University
and at the University of Dubuque
.
, Fortunato earned a bachelor of science degree at Kent State University
.
as an athletic officer in the V-5 program at Miami University
, where he coached the linemen on the football team under Sid Gillman
. From 1946 to 1947, Fortunato coached football and basketball at Leetonia High School
in Leetonia, Ohio
before moving to Upper Iowa University
, where he served as athletic director, head basketball coach, and assistant football coach. He was hired at the University of Dubuque
in April 1949 as head basketball coach and football line coach. In April 1951, Forunato was named line coach at the University of Toledo
, joining the football coaching staff headed by Don Greenwood.
Fortunato was the head football coach for the Adrian
Bulldogs located in Adrian, Michigan
. He held that position for three seasons, from 1953 until 1955. His coaching record at Adrian was 8 wins, 17 losses and 1 tie.As of the conclusion of the 2010 season, this ranks him #11 at Adrian in total wins and #17 at the school in winning percentage .
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
coach and college athletics administrator in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He served as the head football coach at Adrian College
Adrian College
Adrian College is a private, co-educational liberal arts college related to the United Methodist Church in the city of Adrian, Michigan.-Campus:The school is approximately a 45-minute drive from Ann Arbor and Toledo, Ohio, and 90 minutes from Detroit...
from 1953 to 1955, tallying a mark of 8–17–1. Fortunato was also head baseball coach at the University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
from 1952 to 1953 and at Adrian in 1954, compiling a career college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
record of 11–26. In addition, he served as the head basketball coach at Upper Iowa University
Upper Iowa University
Established in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private institution of higher education with its residential campus located in northeast Iowa near the Volga River in the rural community of Fayette, where around 900 students are enrolled....
and at the University of Dubuque
University of Dubuque
The University of Dubuque is a Presbyterian university located in Dubuque, Iowa, with a general attendance of approximately 1,600 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It is one of three four-year post-secondary institutions in the City of Dubuque, and is...
.
Early life and education
A native of Youngstown, OhioYoungstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, Fortunato earned a bachelor of science degree at Kent State University
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
.
Coaching career
Fortunato served in the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as an athletic officer in the V-5 program at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
, where he coached the linemen on the football team under Sid Gillman
Sid Gillman
Sidney "Sid" Gillman was an American football player, coach, executive, and innovator. Gillman's insistence on stretching the football field by throwing deep downfield passes, instead of short passes to running backs or wide receivers at the sides of the line of scrimmage, was instrumental in...
. From 1946 to 1947, Fortunato coached football and basketball at Leetonia High School
Leetonia High School
Leetonia High School is a public high school in Leetonia, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Leetonia Exempted Village Schools district.-Ohio High School Athletic Association State Championships:* Boys Track and Field – 1984...
in Leetonia, Ohio
Leetonia, Ohio
Leetonia is a village in Salem Township, Columbiana County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,043 at the 2000 census. Artie Altomare has been the mayor of Leetonia since 1997.- History :...
before moving to Upper Iowa University
Upper Iowa University
Established in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private institution of higher education with its residential campus located in northeast Iowa near the Volga River in the rural community of Fayette, where around 900 students are enrolled....
, where he served as athletic director, head basketball coach, and assistant football coach. He was hired at the University of Dubuque
University of Dubuque
The University of Dubuque is a Presbyterian university located in Dubuque, Iowa, with a general attendance of approximately 1,600 students. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It is one of three four-year post-secondary institutions in the City of Dubuque, and is...
in April 1949 as head basketball coach and football line coach. In April 1951, Forunato was named line coach at the University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
, joining the football coaching staff headed by Don Greenwood.
Fortunato was the head football coach for the Adrian
Adrian College
Adrian College is a private, co-educational liberal arts college related to the United Methodist Church in the city of Adrian, Michigan.-Campus:The school is approximately a 45-minute drive from Ann Arbor and Toledo, Ohio, and 90 minutes from Detroit...
Bulldogs located in Adrian, Michigan
Adrian, Michigan
As of the 2010 census Adrian had a population of 21,133. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 84.1% white, 4.4% black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 5.9% from some other race and 4.0% from two or more races...
. He held that position for three seasons, from 1953 until 1955. His coaching record at Adrian was 8 wins, 17 losses and 1 tie.As of the conclusion of the 2010 season, this ranks him #11 at Adrian in total wins and #17 at the school in winning percentage .