William Coco’s coaching vision saw no discrimination against age, gender, or superficial measurement— it saw winners. A Temple graduate, Coco coached at his alma mater, taught gymnastics in the Philadelphia Department of Recreation Program, and founded the Mannettes Girls’ Team, winners of National AAU titles in the early 1970s. While at Temple, his athletes took bronze at the 1970 NCAA Championships. His protégés included three World Championship team members, two U. S. Olympic Team members, two Pan American Games team members, and one Nissen Award winner. Coco died at the age of 44 following a short battle to cancer.
