St. John's University Athletics
St. John’s Mourns the Passing of Hall of Famer Bob Ricca
8/31/2026 12:31:00 PM | General
Ricca coached the St. John’s football team for nearly three decades
QUEENS, N.Y. – The St. John's Athletic Department mourns the passing of Bob Ricca, a St. John's Hall of Famer and longtime coach of the University's football team, who died last week at the age of 79.
"We were so saddened to hear of Coach Ricca's passing," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Ed Kull. "He mentored a generation of highly successful student-athletes and our football alumni remain one of the most loyal and dedicated groups at the University. That can be attributed in no small part to Coach Ricca. We offer our sincere condolences to his family, friends and former players."
Ricca, who led the football program from 1974 until its discontinuation in 2002, began coaching St. John's Football at the club level and oversaw the program's rise to Division III in 1978 followed by a move to Division I-AA in 1993. He led St. John's to 15 winning campaigns and seven championships, including the 1994 ECAC title. That fall, the Johnnies finished with a record of 10-1.
Five of Ricca's former players have been inducted into the St. John's Athletic Hall of Fame.
Ricca won Liberty Conference Coach of the Year honors in 1989 and 1991 and was named MAAC Coach of the Year in 1994.
A native of Flushing, Ricca was a standout player at Holy Cross High School and C.W. Post.
A wake for Ricca will be held on Friday, Sept. 4, from 2-4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Branch Funeral Home in Smithtown. A funeral mass will take place on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 10:30 a.m. at Christ the King in Commack.
"We were so saddened to hear of Coach Ricca's passing," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Ed Kull. "He mentored a generation of highly successful student-athletes and our football alumni remain one of the most loyal and dedicated groups at the University. That can be attributed in no small part to Coach Ricca. We offer our sincere condolences to his family, friends and former players."
Ricca, who led the football program from 1974 until its discontinuation in 2002, began coaching St. John's Football at the club level and oversaw the program's rise to Division III in 1978 followed by a move to Division I-AA in 1993. He led St. John's to 15 winning campaigns and seven championships, including the 1994 ECAC title. That fall, the Johnnies finished with a record of 10-1.
Five of Ricca's former players have been inducted into the St. John's Athletic Hall of Fame.
Ricca won Liberty Conference Coach of the Year honors in 1989 and 1991 and was named MAAC Coach of the Year in 1994.
A native of Flushing, Ricca was a standout player at Holy Cross High School and C.W. Post.
A wake for Ricca will be held on Friday, Sept. 4, from 2-4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Branch Funeral Home in Smithtown. A funeral mass will take place on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 10:30 a.m. at Christ the King in Commack.
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