RIVERDALE, NY – Manhattan University mourns the loss of former Assistant Coach of Track and Field Frank "Gags" Gagliano, 89, on Sunday evening.

"Last night, the Manhattan community lost a Hall of Famer and member of its storied coaching family. We are so saddened to learn of the passing of Frank "Gags" Gagliano." said Director of Athletics, Irma Garcia.

"In his time at Manhattan, he mentored a historic generation of Track and Field student-athletes, and played a big part in the 1973 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. We offer our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and former Jasper athletes."

From 1969-1974, the Bronx native served as assistant to fellow Hall of Famer Fred Dwyer on the Track and Field program in Riverdale. Gagliano was a key part of the Green and White becoming a powerhouse, winning the Metropolitan and IC4A Championships, capped by the 1973 NCAA Indoor National Championship. He ultimately was a 2017 inductee to the Manhattan University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Under Gagliano's guidance, the Jaspers set an American 4 x 1 mile relay record and a world-record performance in the Distance Medley Relay. Additionally, he coached 27 Olympians during his career.

As a famed middle-distance and distance coach, Gagliano guided more than 40 four-minute mile runners, including double-digit Olympians, until his unofficial retirement in 2023.

"Coach Gags was someone I have looked up to since competing against his athletes while he was coaching at Georgetown," described Head Coach of Cross Country/Track and Field Todd Witzleben.

"His former athletes love him and share beautiful memories of their time. The Jasper program is built upon the foundation he and Coach [Fred] Dwyer created. We are fortunate to have had Coach Gagliano in our lives."

Gagliano's coaching journey took him from the high school ranks in New Jersey to Manhattan, Rutgers, and finally to Georgetown, where he became one of the sport's most prolific coaches.

His final coaching stop was the New Jersey-New York Track Club (NJNYTC) in 2010, where he coached numerous U.S. Outdoor Championship winners over four years.

He was inducted into the U.S. Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2003.

Finally, in July 2026, USA Track and Field named the Men's 800-meter award at its national championships in his honor.

Gagliano is survived by his wife, Roberta, his four children, and multiple grandchildren.