NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Former Vanderbilt football head coach Fred Pancoast died Sunday at the age of 90.
Pancoast coached the Commodores from 1975-78, with his debut team being his best at 7-4. That season’s Vandy team won its last four games of the season against Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky and Army.
The Pensacola, Florida, native began his coaching career after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was the head coach at Tampa for two years before spending three seasons at Memphis State. After compiling a 20-12-1 record with the Tigers, Pancoast was hired to replace Steve Sloan at Vanderbilt. Pancoast went 7-4 in his first season, capping the year with a 17-14 victory over Tennessee.
In 1978, running back Frank Mordica ran for an SEC-record 321 yards in a victory over Air Force, a record which stood until 2007. That year, he also named Van Helfin the team’s starting quarterback, making Helfin the first Black quarterback to consistently start for the Commodores.
After his final season in 1978, Pancoast entered the corporate world and did arguably his most important work in the Nashville community. He became actively involved multiple charities including Operation Stand Down Nashville, Room In at the Inn and other drug and rehabilitation clinics. He also helped establish the Buffalo Valley Treatment Center.
In 2007, Pancoast received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. In 2008, he was given the President’s Volunteer Service Award by George W. Bush for his work with Operation Stand Down. Additionally, he received the Fred Russell Distinguished American Award from the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the National Football Foundation in 2011.
Visitation and a funeral mass will be held Friday at Christ the King Catholic Church in Nashville.