Fran Ganter
{{Short description|College football coach}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Fran Ganter
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater =
| player_years1 = 1967–1970
| player_team1 = Penn State
| player_positions = Running back
| coach_years1 = 1972
| coach_team1 = Penn State (GA)
| coach_years2 = 1978-1983
| coach_team2 = Penn State (RB/K)
| coach_years3 = 1984–1999
| coach_team3 = Penn State (OC)
| coach_years4 = 2000–2003
| coach_team4 = Penn State (AHC/OC)
| admin_years1 = 2004–2013
| admin_team1 = Penn State (AAD)
| overall_record =
| bowl_record =
| tournament_record =
| championships = 2 national (1982, 1986)
| awards = Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame (2010)
| coaching_records =
}}
Fran Ganter is an American former college football coach and former player. He won two national championships with Penn State and served in numerous coaching positions for the team.
Playing career
Prior to his coaching career, Ganter played running back at Penn State from 1967 to 1970.{{cite web|url=https://www.centredaily.com/news/local/article42817293.html|title=Penn State football: Former player, assistant coach Fran Ganter to retire|publisher=Centre Daily Times}}
Coaching career
Ganter served as the Penn State Nittany Lions offensive coordinator under Joe Paterno from 1984 to 2003.{{cite web|url=https://www.statecollege.com/articles/statecollege-com/penn-state-football-fran-ganter-is-always-a-winner/|title=Penn State Football: Fran Ganter Is Always a Winner|publisher=StateCollege.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.psucollegian.com/archives/ganter-takes-new-position-will-not-coach/article_7692491e-f634-5291-9c19-251c803a1113.html|title=Ganter takes new position, will not coach|publisher=The Collegian}} In 2000, he was named assistant head coach.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2000/02/08/ganter-moves-into-position-to-replace-paterno/|title=GANTER MOVES INTO POSITION TO REPLACE PATERNO|publisher=Chicago Tribune}}{{cite web|url=https://www.poconorecord.com/story/sports/2000/02/10/ganter-loving-his-job/51091936007/|title=Ganter loving his job|publisher=Pocono Record}} Ganter was a member of Penn States 1982 and 1986 national championship teams.
Ganters 1994 offense led the nation in yards per game (520.2) and points per game (47.8).{{cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/blogs/inq-pennstate/Former-Penn-State-player-and-assistant-Fran-Ganter-retires.html|title=Former Penn State player and assistant Fran Ganter retires|publisher=The Philadelphia Inquirer}} After that season, he was offered the Michigan State Spartans head coaching job, but declined the offer and returned to Penn State.{{cite web|url=https://www.psdispatch.com/sports/72750/on-this-date-penn-state-assistant-fran-ganter-looked-back-ahead-in-1995|title=On This Date: Penn State assistant Fran Ganter looked back, ahead in 1995|publisher=Sunday Dispatch}}{{cite web|url=https://www.psucollegian.com/archives/rumors-of-coach-taking-job-abound/article_12487c4f-0810-51c1-9463-63978038b14e.html|title=Rumors of coach taking job abound|publisher=The Collegian}}{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1995/02/26/saban-brings-intensity-to-job-of-restoring-michigan-st-glory/|title=SABAN BRINGS INTENSITY TO JOB OF RESTORING MICHIGAN ST. GLORY|publisher=Chicago Tribune}}
From 2004 to 2013, Ganter served as Penn State's Associate athletic director.{{cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/psu/2004/08/22/The-right-man-for-the-job/stories/200408220244|title=The right man for the job|publisher=Pittsburgh Post Gazette}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mcall.com/2004/02/18/penn-state-shakes-up-its-coaching-staff-fran-ganter-moves-to-a-new-job-galen-hall-is-hired-to-run-the-offense/|title=Penn State shakes up its coaching staff ** Fran Ganter moves to a new job. Galen Hall is hired to run the offense.|publisher=The Morning Call}} In February 2013, he announced his retirement after 46 years associated with Penn State's football program.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/colleges/psu/post/_/id/7334/psus-ganter-to-retire-after-46-year-run|title=PSU's Ganter to retire after 46-year run|publisher=ESPN}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/2013/02/post_12.html|title=Calling it a career: Fran Ganter retires from Penn State football program after 46 years|publisher=The Patriot-News}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football navbox}}
{{1986 Penn State Nittany Lions football navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ganter, Fran}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:American football running backs