Jack F. Charney

Born in Greeley, Colorado in 1942, Jack and his mother, the former Vera Sargent,
returned to Rome, her birthplace, after the premature death of Jack’s father, Dr. Herman
Charney. They would spend the next 15 years in Rome living with family and then in their own

Right after his 1960 RFA graduation, Charney followed in the footsteps of Charlie Dain,
George Flood, and Bill Coughlin to Springfield College where he played three years of varsity

At RFA Charney had been a hurdler, sprinter, long jumper and a relay team member. He
was the co-captain of RFA’s undefeated 1959 league championship football team as both a
defensive back and a running back and was elected president of the Block R Club.
Getting to be a high school football coach was easier than becoming an RFA varsity
football player. Right out of college, Charney became the assistant football and track coach at
Pulaski High in New Britain, Connecticut and was 24-4 over his four years there. During the
next more than 30 years, Charney coached at colleges mostly in New England including one year
as the freshman coach at Springfield when he went back to get his Masters in physical education.
From there he went to Norwich University where among his players were Romans Steve Davis,
Pat Passalaqua, and Jerry Corigliano.

After Norwich, Charney coached at American International, Brown, Dean, Nichols and
had a continuing connection with Rome Sports Hall of Famer Mike McCarthy who was an NFL
and then Canadian league scout and executive. His coaching record was 147-93-2.
Jack’s philosophy of coaching includes “Surround yourself with good people and always
strive for success. Play to win the game. Otherwise, why keep score?”