Stegenga Funeral Chapel

Fred Julian, who coached at West Catholic High School and Grand Rapids Community College, died Saturday morning due to prostate cancer. He was 75 years old.Mr. Julian, of Comstock Park, taught and coached at West Catholic for 16 seasons and 18 more at GRCC before retiring in 2002 at the age of 65.He guided the Raiders to 139-48-2 record, including appearances in the 1988 national championship game and six bowl games. He was inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2003.Former Grand Rapids Press sports editor Bob Becker covered Mr. Julian's teams during his lengthy coaching career.“He was pretty tough, and there were a couple of times when we went nose-to-nose, but he was a very good man and a great coach,” Becker said. “He was the kind of person you would want your son to play football for, and he was right in the middle of the era when we had so many outstanding coaches here.“We had (George) Barcheski, (Jack) VerDuin, Bob (Friberg) at Kentwood, there was a group of seven, eight or nine really top-notch coaches, but they were also top-notch people.”Mr. Julian graduated from Detroit Pershing High School and earned All City, All-State and All American honors by the Detroit Free Press. He was a standout college football player at the University of Michigan from 1957-59 and was the team's leading rusher in '59, earning him the nickname ‘The Michigan Maverick’ for his speed.Mr. Julian played in the American Football League, as well, and was the starting defensive back for the New York Titans, renamed the Jets in 1963, during their inaugural 1960 season. He led the team with six interceptions in 14 games.Mr. Julian is survived by his two daughters, Jennifer Sciamanna and Lindsay Hunter, and son, Dominic Julian. His son, Brad Julian, died in 1988 at the age of 21.“I was in an education setting for 11 years, and I really loved the fact that he made such an impact in children’s lives,” Jennifer Sciamanna said. “It was evident right to the end. S...