7/23/2002 - Sprint Football
Rizzo Named Head Sprint Football Coach
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ANNAPOLIS, Md.-Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk announced Wednesday that Maj. Jerry Rizzo, USMC, has assumed the duties of head sprint football coach.
Rizzo is a 1987 graduate of Williams College where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. Rizzo's coaching background includes a two-year stint as football and track coach at the Delbarton School in Morristown, N.J. ('87-88), defensive backfield coach at Williams College ('89) and wide receivers coach at the University of California (1990-91). While at Cal, Rizzo received a Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration.
Major Rizzo comes to the Naval Academy with an impressive military background. He began Officer Candidates School in June of 1991 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in August of 1991. Upon completion of The Basic School in Quantico, VA he was assigned to the Naval Aviation Training Command in Pensacola, Fla. Major Rizzo flew the T-34C, the T-2B, and the T-45A in Corpus Christi and Kingsville, TX. He was designated a Naval Aviator in April 1995 and subsequently received the Naval Aviation Training Command's Student Aviator of the Year Award. Maj. Rizzo selected F/A-18s and was assigned to VFA-106 at Naval Air Station Cecil Field, FL.
Upon completion of the Fleet Replacement Squadron in August 1996, Rizzo reported to Marine Air Group 31 at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, SC. While there he served in numerous billets, including VMFA-122 Pilot Training Officer, MAG-31 Pilot Training Officer, and VMFA-251 Operations Officer. Major Rizzo attended TOPGUN and WTI and received every possible F/A-18 flight leadership designation. While assigned to MAG-31, Rizzo completed two deployments to Iwakuni, Japan.
Maj. Rizzo reported to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. in November 2000. He served as the Battalion Landing Team (BLT) Air Officer until November 2001. The BLT attached to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) and deployed to the Mediterranean from April-October 2001 as part of the Landing Force of the 6th Fleet. During August-September 2001 Major Rizzo participated in Peacekeeping Operations in Kosovo in support of Task Force Falcon.
Maj. Rizzo served as a TOPGUN instructor at NSAWC in Fallon, Nev., prior to being assigned duty at the Naval Academy.
Maj. Rizzo's personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Gold Star in lieu of two awards.
He is married to the former Henriette Lassen of Roager, Denmark. They have two daughters, Emily Victoria and Julianna Faith, and reside in Annapolis, MD.
