
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 23, 1995                   TAG: 9505240015
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TOP AIDE TO TACKLE W&L FOOTBALL JOB

Frank Miriello, a longtime assistant and close friend of Gary Fallon, was named interim head football coach at Washington and Lee University on Monday. Fallon, the Generals' coach the past 17 seasons, died of a heart attack April 29.

Mike Walsh, W&L's athletic director, said Miriello would serve as head coach for the 1995 season.

``We feel certain that our current staff is capable, and we wanted the players' adjustment to be as minimal as possible going into this very difficult time,'' Walsh said. ``Frank was the logical choice, not only for his longstanding friendship with Gary but because he was the defensive coordinator and was one of the keys to our success.''

Miriello, 50, served as an assistant at W&L under Fallon from 1978-81 before moving on to assistant's positions at Hampden-Sydney and VMI. He returned to W&L in 1990 as an assistant football and lacrosse coach and was named defensive coordinator in 1991.

Miriello's group led the Old Dominion Athletic Conference in scoring defense last season, giving up 13.4 points per game, and has led the league in pass defense the past two seasons.

``In my heart, I know Coach Fallon would have wanted this,'' Miriello said. ``... Once we got over the initial tragedy, people were beginning to support me, be it team members or other members of the coaching staff. I think everyone would want to honor [Fallon's] wishes.''

Walsh said the search for a permanent head coach would begin after the 1995 season and that he expected Miriello ``will be a candidate at that time.''

For now, Miriello said he was concerned only with this season.

``We have a good nucleus and I feel confident,'' he said. ``I'm excited about the opportunity. In a way it's bittersweet, but I'm ready for this.''

Miriello is a 1967 graduate of East Stroudsburg (Pa.) University, where he was a three-year starter in the defensive backfield. The native of Kulpmont, Pa., also has coaching experience at five Pennsylvania high schools.

by CNB