Football

Leo Fanning enters his eighth season as both the associate head coach and the defensive backs coach in 2012.

Under Fanning’s tutelage, two first-year starters received all-league recognition in 2010. Freshman cornerback Nael Pierre-Louis was named to the second team All-ECFC (Eastern Collegiate Football Conference) defense and junior safety Sean Stone was recognized as an honorable mention selection.

During his time at NU, Fanning has coached team captains Brendan Recchia ‘08, Danny Wilde ‘10 and Donovan Brown ‘10.

Brown earned first team All-ECFC accolades in 2009 and was deemed a second-team safety in the team’s final season in the Empire 8 Conference in 2008. Brown also received honorable mention from that circuit in 2007 and finished his standout career sixth on the all-time Norwich interceptions list with 12.

In addition to on-the-field honors, three of Fanning’s players at Norwich have been inducted into the Vermont Chapter of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame.

Josh Mahoney ’06, who was a four-year player for the Cadets as well as being named a “Distinguished NU Scholar,” was inducted in the 2006 class, while Charles Stiles ‘11, an active-duty Marine and three-year starter for Norwich, was inducted in 2011. Recchia also received this distinction, being enshrined in 2008.

Before arriving in Northfield, Fanning spent time at Holy Cross where he served as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator, working with the late Dan Allen. He also coached the Crusaders' defensive backs, several of which made all-league. Prior to Holy Cross, Fanning worked on Allen's staff at Boston University.

Fanning began his coaching career at his alma mater, Bridewater State College, in 1971. After two seasons, he moved on to UMass-Amherst for one year before joining the staff at Tufts University. In 1978, Fanning moved on to Harvard University where he served as an assistant under legendary head coach Joe Restic for 16 years. Fanning also had a coaching stint at American International College.

Fanning was a defensive back for the BSC Bears from 1966-69 and served as team captain during his senior season. He was also co-recipient of the BSC Sports Achievement Award and nominated to the "Outstanding Collegiate Athletes of America" in 1969-70. Fanning was inducted into the BSC Hall of Fame in 1994.

Fanning earned his master's degree in 1975 from the University of Massachusetts.

Leo and his wife Patricia have two adult children, Kristen and Matthew.

Recruiting Areas

Primary: Massachusetts (Eastern) 
Auxiliary: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota