Clarence Stasavich

Hometown: Georgetown, Illinois

ECU Affiliation: Football Coach, Athletic Director, Physical Education Instructor

Branch of Service: Navy

Dates/Era of Service: World War II

Places Served: Tunisia; Sicily, Anzio, Italy; and Normandy, France

Brief Narrative

Clarence Stasavich, a first-generation American and coal miner's son, was born an raised in Illinois, before moving to North Carolina in 1931 to play football for Lenoir-Rhyne College. After earning his B.S. degree in 1935, Stasavich acted as an assistant coach for Campbell College in Buies Creek, North Carolina before returning to Lenoir-Rhyne in 1938 to serve as the offensive line coach. During WWII, colleges and universities across the nation suspended their intercollegiate football competition in an effort to support mobilization for the war effort. In an act of patriotism, Stasavich joined the U.S. Navy. After the war, he returned to Hickory as the newly appointed head football coach of Lenoir-Rhyne College. In 1962, Stasavich accepted the head coaching position at East Carolina College. In 1970, he became East Carolina's full-time athletic director.On October 24, 1975, Stasavich passed away after suffering a heart attack. For his efforts, he has been recognized for induction into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame (1970), the ECU Hall of Fame(1976), and the National Association of Athletic Directors Hall of Fame(1977).