Former St. Xavier football coach Steve Rasso died Tuesday night
St. Xavier football is Steve Rasso.
But, his legacy extends far beyond wins and losses on North Bend Road.
Rasso, who coached St. Xavier from 1978-2003, died Tuesday night at the age of 76, the school announced early Wednesday morning. Rasso, a Bridgetown resident, had recently been diagnosed with cancer.
Rasso is survived by his wife, Sally, children Steve Jr., Francine and Maria and grandchildren. Information about funeral services will be announced by the school when details become available.
Current St. Xavier football coach Steve Specht – first a player and later a defensive coordinator under Rasso – said his former coach impacted the lives of thousands.
"He made you want to be a better person," Specht said. "He demanded your best all the time – not some of the time – all of the time."
Specht, a 1986 St. Xavier graduate, took over the Bombers head coaching position in 2004 after Rasso announced his retirement in November 2003.
Specht played defensive back under Rasso and said the coach was tough on the players and could be relentless during the season.
Only later did Specht understand Rasso's hard-nosed approach was intended to make his players better on and off the field.
"Coach Rasso was my mentor and did more than anyone to influence me as a football and person," Specht said. "I learned to be a perfectionist from Steve, but I was a much better man because of the time I was able to spend with him and the impact he had on my life."
Former St. Xavier free safety Rocky Boiman knew how much his former high school coach Rasso loved the school to its core.
Boiman, who later played at Notre Dame and won a Super Bowl with the Colts, doesn't remember ever seeing Rasso without a St. Xavier shirt or at least wearing blue attire.
That passion for the school community was very evident.
"I don't even know you could put a word or a number on it," said former St. Xavier offensive lineman Kyle Ralph.
Former players, opposing coaches and fans recalled Rasso's legacy on Wednesday. The St. Xavier website set up a memorial message board so others could share their experiences regarding the late physical education teacher and coach.
Rasso also coached football at Mariemont (head coach, 1977), La Salle (head coach, 1968-1975) and was Covington Catholic's first head coach in 1967.
Rasso was also an Elder assistant coach from 1963-1965 (defensive coordinator 1964-1965). He started his coaching career as a Cleveland Cathedral Latin assistant in 1962.
Rasso compiled an overall head coaching record of 249-122-6 in 36 years.
"I think he is one of the best coaches Cincinnati has ever had," said Tom Grippa, a former head coach at Elder, Fairfield and La Salle.
Ironically, Boiman's father, former running back Mike Boiman, was coached by Rasso in 1971 at La Salle. Rasso was the school's second head football coach after the program started in 1962.
Rocky Boiman, 1998 St. Xavier graduate, said Rasso commanded respect and instructed a toughness that helped challenge his players to rise to the occasion.
Rocky Boiman recalled one occasion during his junior year he and his teammates ran laps for two hours during a late-season practice to tackle mediocrity and lack of leadership which had settled in. Despite vomiting and dirt on players' faces, those laps set the tone for his senior year in 1997.
"That made a man out of a lot of players," said Boiman.
Rasso had a 189-86-2 record at St. Xavier and won six Greater Cincinnati League/Greater Catholic League Coach of the Year Awards. (The GCL was known as the Greater Catholic League starting in 1990).
He led the Bombers to 11 playoff appearances, five regional titles and three state runner-up finishes (1992, 1998 and 2001).
St. Xavier was state runner-up to Cleveland St. Ignatius in 1992 and 2001. The teams have also met in the regular season over the years with the first meeting starting in 1991, according to St. Ignatius.
St. Ignatius coach Chuck Kyle said it was evident the St. Xavier players enjoyed competing under Rasso.
"He was always a gentleman," said Kyle, who just completed his 32nd year as Wildcats head coach. "A great guy."
Rasso was inducted into the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2005.
Rasso was a three-year varsity football letterman starter at Bishop Duffy High School in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and a three-year letterman at UC where he graduated in 1960 with a degree in Education. He earned his Master's Degree in Education in 1968 from Xavier University.
Rasso was known for being well-prepared and having his teams ready to compete; that earned the respect with area opposing coaches.
"What a great human being," former Moeller coach Gerry Faust said Wednesday morning. "He was one of my favorite coaches. I thought he was a class act."
Ohio State assistant and former Colerain coach Kerry Coombs remembers some "epic battles" between Colerain and St. Xavier in the mid-1990s.
Coombs remembers Rasso's teams were known for the fundamentals and soundness of schemes. Coombs had a great deal of personal respect for the rival coach.
"What I remember most is that at all times he was a complete gentleman," Coombs said.
