Remembering a Legend: Coach Frank "Porky" Vieira, the Heart of Chargers Baseball, Passes Away at 91
Coach Frank "Porky" Vieira (1933–2025)
Beloved Coach, Builder of Dreams, and Father of Chargers Baseball
It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Coach Frank "Porky" Vieira, a towering figure in collegiate athletics and the heart and soul of University of New Haven baseball. Coach Vieira passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, leaving behind a legacy unmatched in the annals of the sport. Affectionately known as "Coach V," Vieira led the New Haven baseball program for an extraordinary 44 seasons, retiring in 2006 with a staggering record of 1,127-324-6. He transformed a modest program into a national powerhouse, compiling 42 consecutive winning seasons from 1963 to 2004 and 44 winning seasons overall — a feat rarely seen at any level of sport. Under his guidance, the Chargers made 35 regional tournament appearances and reached the College World Series 17 times. Twice, in 1980 and 1989, they finished as national runners-up. His .776 career winning percentage ranked second among all NCAA Division II coaches at the time of his retirement and remains among the highest in college baseball history.
Vieira's contributions went far beyond numbers. He was a teacher, a mentor, and a molder of men. More than 80 of his players went on to play professionally, including 10 who reached Major League Baseball. The NCAA record books, which mention "New Haven" nearly 50 times, and the 46 of his former student-athletes enshrined in the New Haven Athletics Hall of Fame, stand as enduring testaments to his leadership and legacy. His accolades were many — including multiple Coach of the Year honors and the prestigious "Gold Key" from the Connecticut Sports Writers Association —as well as being inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame, the New Haven Athletics Hall of Fame, and the Quinnipiac Athletics Hall of Fame, where he remains the men's basketball program's all-time leading scorer. Still, to Coach V, the real honor was seeing his players grow, succeed, and carry forward the values he instilled in them: discipline, dedication, and heart. Featured in publications such as Sports Illustrated, Coach Vieira was never one to seek the spotlight. He always said that a great coach is nothing without great players. Those who knew him understood that he was the constant, the compass, and the cornerstone of Charger baseball.
Coach Frank "Porky" Vieira was more than a coach. He was a legend, a pioneer, and a father figure to generations of student-athletes. His legacy lives on in every pitch thrown, every base run, and every young athlete who dares to dream.
He is survived by his family, his former players, his University of New Haven colleagues, and the countless lives he touched along the way. Rest easy, Coach V. Your innings may be over, but your impact will echo through the dugouts forever.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Frank "Porky" Vieira Scholarship Fund. There will be a memorial service held this summer at Frank Vieira Field at the University of New Haven.
