Former Vanderbilt Head Coach Fred Pancoast has a life story that has inspired many. Raised in Pensacola, FL, Pancoast attended the University of Tampa where he was a four-year letterman in football and baseball. Because of his success he was inducted into the University of Tampa Hall of Fame.
After college, Pancoast served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Recruit Training where he again played football and baseball – he was named All Service Quarterback.
After his military service, Pancoast spent the next 20 years of his career in the college coaching ranks, primarily in the Southeastern Conference. He held the positions of Assistant Coach and Head Coach at the University of Tampa from 1959-1963.
As an Assistant Coach and Offensive Coordinator for the University of Florida (1964-1969), Pancoast had the pleasure of coaching Steve Spurrier during his Heisman-winning season. He then went on to become an Assistant Coach and Offensive Coordinator for the University of Georgia (1970-1972) before being named the Head Coach at Memphis State University (1972-1975).
In 1975, Pancoast was named the Head Coach at Vanderbilt in 1975, a position he held until 1979. While at Vanderbilt, Pancoast most notably held the record as the last coach to beat the University of Tennessee in Knoxville until 2005.
After leaving Vanderbilt, Pancoast started a new career as the Director of Employee Relations for the Murray Corporation. His success in the field led him to start his own business. Pancoast now owns Pancoast & Associates; a successful employee benefits company with clients nationwide. Fred Pancoast has devoted much of his life to serving those less fortunate. He was instrumental in establishing the Buffalo Valley Treatment Center, one of the largest independent indigent alcohol and drug treatment centers in the southeast.
Pancoast was also involved in the start up of the “Room In The Inn” program with Father Charles Strobel, which has served and housed thousands of homeless people in the Nashville area. Pancoast additionally directs a mentoring program that helps participants reenter society. Pancoast is a major supporter of the Tennessee Special Olympics; he sits on the Board of Directors of the YMCA and volunteers for Junior Achievement. His community involvement is tireless and selfless. Fred Pancoast is a devoted husband, father and grandfather to 18 grandchildren.