Fred Pancoast, former college football coach and devoted father and grandfather, passed away in Nashville, TN on April 9, 2023: Easter Sunday. He lived a very full 90 years.
Fred was born in Pensacola, FL on July 12, 1932. He spent his childhood in Pensacola, and after spending his high school years playing football, he was awarded a football scholarship to play quarterback at the University of Tampa.
After graduating, he joined the United States Marine Corps. When he returned home from the Marines, he met Carolyn, who became his wife of 67 years and the mother of his 4 beloved daughters. Early into their marriage, Fred began teaching mathematics and coaching football at Hillsborough High School in Tampa: the first step of an extensive coaching career.
In 1962, he began his college football coaching career when he was hired as head coach at the University of Tampa. Years later, in 1967, he would be inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame. After his coaching time at Tampa, he served as offensive backfield coach at the University of Florida from 1964-1968, and in 1969, he was promoted to offensive coordinator and helped the offense set numerous school records.
From 1970-1971, he was the offensive coordinator at the University of Georgia. He moved on to serve as head coach at the University of Memphis (formerly Memphis State) from 1972-1974, then as head coach at Vanderbilt University from 1975-1978. It was in 1978 that he retired from coaching college football and began working in human resources.
In 1985, Fred founded Pancoast Benefits, an employee benefits marketing and consulting firm, where he went on to build a successful company and a new career. However, he left a strong legacy and impact college football: he was awarded the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame “Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2007, and the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame “Fred Russell Distinguished American Award” in 2011.
Aside from his professional success, Fred was known for his passion for caring for others and devoted much of his life to serving the less fortunate. He was on the original organizing committee and heavily involved in Room In the Inn, a program designed to bring in homeless people during the winter months in order to give them shelter and a warm meal.
He was also heavily involved in volunteering at Operation Stand-Down, The Campus for Human Development, and multiple drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinics – specifically the Buffalo Valley Treatment Center, which he was instrumental in establishing. Due to his extensive volunteer work, and specifically his work with Operation Stand Down, he was awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award by President George W. Bush in 2008.
More than any other achievement, Fred was most proud of his family. His family and all who knew him describe him as the kindest, most honest and generous man, with a rock-solid faith in Jesus. His favorite Bible verse was James 2:20, “Faith without works is dead,” and he lived it out every day of his life.
He is survived by his beautiful wife, Carolyn; his daughters Karen (Mark) Adams, Susan (Len) Ray, Dawn (Dean) Ligon, and Krissi (Brent) Watkins; his 19 grandchildren; and an ever-growing number of great-grandchildren.
Fred’s life will be honored at Christ the King Catholic Church on Friday, April 14, with a visitation at 9:30 AM and a funeral Mass to follow at 11:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Room In the Inn.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.marshalldonnellycombs.com for the Pancoast family.
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