Detroit Catholic Central High School

BIOGRAPHY

RICHARD CORATTI '69 

Richard (Rick) Coratti '69 played football (1965-1968) at Catholic Central (CC) as an offensive lineman and linebacker under CC Hall of Fame Coach Bill Foley '45. Rick continued his studies at Western Michigan University where he earned his degree education and played one year of football.
 
Rick began his football coaching career in 1972 as an Assistant Varsity Coach to his dad, Hall of Famer Angelo Coratti, at Benedictine High School. He moved to CC's freshman team in 1973 and the CC JV team in 1974. The following year he became Varsity Coach Dave Woodcock's Defensive Coordinator. He would stay on with Coach Tom Mach in the fall of 1976. Mach and Coratti went on to build one of the best high school football programs in the country. "He was a key part of all our success" were the words of Coach Tom Mach. Rick Was CC Defensive Coordinator for the next 31 years. He was also Assistant Head Coach beginning in 2009 and continued in that position for two seasons under new Head Coach Dan Anderson.
 
During Rick Coratti's 36 years of coaching football, he was Defensive Coordinator for nine (9) Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Stacc Championships, 15 MHSAA Regional Championships, 13 MHSAA State Finals appearances and 15 Catholic High School League (CHSL) Championships. His varsity teams' record was 303 wins and 77 losses.
 
Rick began his 21 -year basketball career as an Assistant Coach at Catholic Central for Hall of Famer Bernie Holowicki in the 1976-77 & 1977-78 seasons and became Catholic Centrals' Head Coach from the 1994-95 season through the 2005-06 season. His team's accomplishments included three (3) MHSAA District Championships, six (6) CHSL final appearances and two (2) CHSL Championships. Rick's overall varsity record was 183-77.
 
Rick Coratti's accomplishments have been recognized by the media and his peers. He has been inducted into the Catholic League Hall of Fame, the Michigan High School Coaches (MHSCA) Hall of Fame and the Michigan High School Football Coaches (MHSFCA) Hall of Fame. Rick was named the MHSFCA's Assistant Coach of the Year, the Detroit Free Press Assistant Coach Of the Year and three times the CHSL Divisional Basketball Coach of the Year.
 
Throughout his career, Rick Coratti has been known as a Christian gentleman representing himself, his family and Catholic Central in a first-class manner. He has been an excellent example and teacher to hundreds of young men in his coaching career in carrying on the tradition of "Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge". We honor him with his induction into Catholic Central Hall Of Fame.

ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME