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Former Colgate Assistant Dies; Became Great Coach at Harvard

Wed, Dec 14, 2011

Former Colgate Assistant Dies; Became Great Coach at Harvard

Joe Restic, who was an assistant coach at Colgate early in his career and former HCS teacher, died on Thursday in Boston. He was 85. He went on to create a complex offense known as the multiflex while coaching in Canada and took it to Harvard, becoming its longest-serving football coach

He was the husband of Marian "Bea" (Biedinger) Restic who passed away in 2008.

Restic is survived by a children, Kathleen A. Restic and her husband Robert Brown of Groton, Mass., Joseph W. Restic and his wife Susan (Schaumburg) Restic of Lake Oswego, Ore., Suzan R. and her husband Lou Milione of Gainesville, Va., and David L. Restic and his wife Jaime (McGadden) Restic of Milford, Mass. He is also survived by one sister, Agnes Mancuso of Ohio, eight grandchildren; Chelsie, Brittany, Eric, Kelly, Marcus, Shawn, Hailey, Riley and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by 4 brothers; John, Michael, Frank and George and 4 sisters; Margaret, Kathryn, Mary and Goody.

A Funeral Mass was held Tuesday at St. Mary's Church in Milford, MA. Burial followed at St. Mary's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society , 30 Speen St., Framingham, Mass. 01701-9376. 

An obituary published by Harvard said that on Jan. 5, 1971, he became the head coach at Harvard, leading the Crimson to five Ivy League championships and a 117-97-6 record in 23 years.

Restic, who served as president of the American Football Coaches Association in 1988, also coached collegiately at Brown as an assistant. He was named AFCA District 1 Kodak Coach of the Year in 1975. 

He coached in six all-star games, serving as head coach in the East-West Shrine Game and the Blue-Gray Classic. A three-time Eastern Coach of the Year honoree, Restic was the 1990 winner of the "Distinguished American" award given by the Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation.

He also coached in the Canadian Football League with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, leading the team to six Grey Cup appearances.

Restic, who began coaching in 1955, said in a 1993 interview, "I'm really concerned about college football. There are forces taking over the game that only care about money."

In another 1993 interview, Restic said, "Success is not what the players on my team do on the field, but what they are doing five years after they leave here. If I can have an impact in helping them along, that's what means the most to me."

Restic was born July 21, 1926 in Emeigh Run, PA, the son of the late Louis and Mary (Hoyson) Restic. A native of Hastings, Pa., Restic graduated Villanova in 1952 and earned his master's degree from Seton Hall in 1962. A talented athlete, Restic played professional baseball in the Philadelphia Phillies organization and was also a wide receiver and defensive back for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1952-53.

Restic served in the US Army and the US Air Force during WW II. Sgt. 1st Class Restic served in the Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment. He was awarded the Army Occupation Medal (Germany), the American Theater Ribbon and the WW II Victory Ribbon.

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