Holy Name High School: Alumni Highlight, Frank Solich 1962

Holy Name High Schools, Frank Solich Class of 1962

From The HN Wave Fall 2011

The Holy Name Triple Threat Motto – “Mind, Body, Spirit” truly defines Frank Solich as a coach, professional, and an individual. Holy Name High School is proud to recognize, celebrate, and acknowledge Frank Solich, Class of 1962.

In the fall of 1961, Holy Name High School captured its first football championship in the school’s history, defeating Cathedral Latin in the Charity Game by a score of 12-7. Tailback Frank Solich’s 50-yard dash sealed the victory for the Namers. The following article, taken from the October 7,1961, issue of the school newspaper The Name, tells the story.

Holy Name never won a Charity Game and opponent Cathedral Latin had never lost one. The powerful Namer ground attack was pitted against Latin’s sensational aerial power. Going into the fourth quarter the Green Wave was down 7-6. Suddenly, with 5:32 remaining on the clock, nearly 30,000 screaming fans see tailback Frank Solich break open around right end and blaze down the sideline 50 yards to score the
game-stealing tally. The combined effort of the 44 players, coaches and managers all helped the Green Wave varsity football team win the ’61 City Championship.

Frank moved to Cleveland from Pennsylvania and attended St. Ignatius of Antioch Elementary School. Holy Name High School offered Frank the opportunity to enroll as a freshman and play football. Frank’s fond high school memories include the great friends he met, his supportive teachers and the wonderful Sisters of Charity, who always kept the Catholic Faith at the center of the student’s education.

The photo of Frank below and his message, are from legendary teacher and study hall moderator Mrs. Ruth Seitz’s personal yearbook. Frank writes, “To the greatest and best teacher I have ever known. I could never repay you for all you have done for me. Thanks for everything, maybe someday you’ll be proud of me. Frank ’62”. Holy Name is proud of Frank’s success, and we are sure that the late Mrs. Seitz would be proud as well.

In the fall of 1962, Frank was recruited to play football for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. Solich went on to spend nearly thirty years as part of the Nebraska football program as a player, assistant coach, and head coach. In 1976, Frank was inducted into the Holy Name High School Hall of Fame, followed by his induction into the Cornhuskers Hall of Fame in 1992.

On December 17, 2004, Frank Solich was named the Ohio University Bobcats head football coach. The Bobcats have been bowl eligible in four of his six years at the helm, and many of his players have been drafted by the NFL in each of the last three seasons. The above photo captures coach Solich celebrating his 100th win as the head coach at Ohio University.

Holy Name’s 100th anniversary celebration begins in 2014, and coach Frank Solich plans to be a part of those events.