Clarion Athletics

An All-America athlete, a PSAC Championship coach in two sports, and the man responsible for Clarion University's outstanding athletic tradition, Frank Lignelli is  Clarion University athletics.

A native of Monongahela, Pa., and a 1943 graduate of Monongahela High, Frank served in the U.S. Navy 1943-46. In 1946 he decided to attend college and was accepted to Penn State. As was the custom then, Penn State asked Lignelli to attend California State for a year or two and then transfer to Penn State. His transcripts, however, were mistakenly sent to Clarion University instead, and the long-time love affair between Lignelli and Clarion began.

As an athlete, Frank earned 11 varsity letters, including four in wrestling and football and three in baseball. A center and linebacker, Frank was named as a "Little All-American" in 1949, as well as first team all conference, district, and state. He wrestled at 175 pounds and was a standout there, plus led the baseball team as a senior with a .462 batting average. A 1950 Clarion graduate, Frank taught at North Versailles and Monongahela High Schools before returning to Clarion to teach and coach in 1957. An assistant football coach for the next 13 seasons, Frank restarted the wrestling program in the 1959-60 season, coached for seven seasons, and as head coach sported a 69-11-1 overall record which included the PSAC title in 1965. In 1966 he became Clarion's third A.D., succeeding Waldo Tippin, who retired. Frank was the A.D. 1966-86, went on sabbatical leave, then returned as A.D. from November 2, 1987, through December 31, 1990.

Clarion's athletic teams won 11 national championships, 59 PSAC titles, 22 PSAC runner-up finishes, 40 PSAC-West crowns, and numerous NAIA district titles. He started and raised well over one million dollars since 1967 for the Centennial Scholarship Fund, now known as the Waldo S. Tippin Scholarship Fund. Other accomplishments include his 10-year stint as Clarion golf coach from 1976 to 1986 and a PSAC golf title in 1982, his induction into the NAIA and EWL "Halls of Fame" in 1987, the Western Pennsylvania "Sports Hall of Fame" in 1986, and the PSAC wrestling "Hall of Fame" in 1984.