Background
Panciera was born October 11, 1921 in Westerly, Rhode Island.
Panciera was born October 11, 1921 in Westerly, Rhode Island.
United States Army War College.
Panciera coached the Huskies from 1962 through 1979, finishing with a 297–160–5 overall record. He enrolled at Rhode Island State College in 1940, but joined the United States Army during World World War World War II After the war, he returned to college and played football and baseball for the Rams while completing his degree. After graduating, Panciera spent three years at Killingly High School in Danielson, Connecticut, serving as the school"s first athletic director and coaching the football and baseball teams.
In 1950, Panciera joined the staff of the Connecticut Huskies football team, as freshman coach.
Four years later, he added assistant coach of the baseball team under head coach J. O. Christian before succeeding him in 1962. In his career as head baseball coach from 1962 through 1979, the Huskies reached three College World Series and saw 40 players sign professional contracts.
Panciera owns the highest winning percentage of all baseball coaches at UConn. He died on September 8, 1998, after a prolonged illness.