SUNY Cortland C-Club Hall of Fame
Jerry Casciani’s rich association with SUNY Cortland for more than five decades has included serving as men’s lacrosse head coach, assistant coach for wrestling, football and men’s lacrosse, and physical education associate professor and chair.
* A native of Niagara Falls, N.Y., he earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1959 from Springfield College (where he was a football offensive and defensive back), a master’s degree in physical education from Penn State in 1960, and a doctorate degree from West Virginia University in 1980
* Began working at Cortland in 1970 as a physical education instructor, was promoted to assistant professor three years later, was named associate professor in 1981, and served as the chair of the Physical Education Department from 1990-97, 1998-2000 (interim dean of Professional Studies in 1997-98), and from 2000 until his retirement in 2008 as Associate Professor and Chair Emeritus of Physical Education
* As men’s lacrosse head coach for seven seasons from 1984-90 his teams posted a combined 60-44 record and made six NCAA Division III tournament appearances, including national semifinal showings in 1985 and 1986
* Led Cortland to four SUNYAC men’s lacrosse titles, with the team never losing a league game (24-0 record; the conference did not sponsor the sport during his final three years), and was named SUNYAC Coach of the Year in 1985 and 1986
* Men’s lacrosse assistant coach for nine seasons from 1974-82, during which time the program made eight NCAA appearances and won the 1975 NCAA Division II title
* Football assistant coach for 13 seasons (1970-75, 80-86), primarily working with linebackers and defensive ends
* Wrestling head coach during 1971-72 season and assistant coach for two other seasons in the early 1970s
* Head lacrosse and wrestling coach, and assistant football coach, for three years at Baltimore Junior College from 1964-67; his 1967 lacrosse team was undefeated and won the unofficial national junior college championship
* Held teaching and coaching positions at York (Pa.) Junior College and Manhasset (N.Y.) High School in the early-mid 1960s
* Prior to his arrival at Cortland he was the district chairman of health and physical education of the Northeastern School District of York County (Pa.)
* Infantry Medic in the U.S. Army in 1960-61
* Played semi-professional football in Pennsylvania for two seasons
* Received Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2015 from Lewiston-Porter Central High School
* Researched and wrote an extensive campus essay on the genesis and evolution of physical education at Cortland, including the history of Cortland Athletics, as part of the College’s 2018 Sesquicentennial history project
* Has worked numerous summer lacrosse camps and clinics at Cortland, and has served as the Cortland/Homer Youth Hockey President
