STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Larry Geracioti, who served as Athletic Director at the University of Detroit from 1978 to 1981 passed away on April 15 at age 85. Geracioti came to U of D from Wagner College, replacing Dick Vitale as athletic director after Vitale announced that he was leaving his A.D./head basketball coaching post to become the head coach of the NBA's Detroit Pistons.

"We were saddened to learn of the passing of Larry Geracioti," UDM Associate Vice President and Athletic Director Keri Gaither said. "Larry remained a strong advocate for Titan Athletics over the years and I enjoyed many conversations with him as he shared history and traditions from his time at U of D. He was always ready to offer advice or help out in any way. Despite moving back east, Larry maintained close friendships with many of the former student-athletes and alumni and he will be greatly missed by the Detroit Titan family".

Born in New Rochelle, NY, Geracioti was a resident of Lower Makefield Township, PA the past 20 years. He enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a coach, administrator, and educator in intercollegiate athletics, serving in various posts at the University of New Mexico, Boston University, Columbia University and New York University (NYU) where he spent 17 years in various administrator and coaching spots.

He accumulated a 245-45 record over 10 seasons at NYU, including a third-place finish at the 1969 College World Series and NCAA District II Coach of the Year honors. While at NYU he was extensively involved with international competition (Germany 1960, World Tournament in Italy, 1973) in addition to his committee work as the chairman of the Television Committee for the College World Series. Geracioti was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2009, and coached at the World Tournament in Italy (1973).

Following his stint at the University of Detroit, he became the Director of Administration at Spour, Behrins, Campbell and Young, Inc., specializing in corporate business activities and personal financial planning for sports personalities. Geracioti then took over as head baseball at coach Georgetown in 1986, where he remained until his retirement in 1993.

Geracioti (USAF Captain, ret.) was a decorated World War II veteran of both European and Pacific theatres of operation (Air Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters). After graduating from Missouri State in 1950, Geracioti was recalled to military service for the Korean War.