Fred Julian was a winner in football as a player and coach.
He was a high school All-American selection playing at Pershing High School in Detroit and was recruited by the University of Michigan football program where he was a three-year letterman and a two-year, two-way starter as a safety and running back. He was the Wolverines’ leading rusher his senior year.
A tryout arranged by Michigan coach Bump Elliott in 1960 landed him a one-year spot with the New York Titans of the new American Football League. He played on year under legendary coach Sammy Baugh and led the team with six interceptions.
Julian expected to get drafted into the military in 1961 and informed the Titans, according to William Ryczek’s history of the New York Jets. Julian was released, eventually did not go into the military and returned to Michigan.
While working as an insurance agent he then became Player/Coach with the semi-professional Grand Rapids Shamrocks in 1961 and then spent three years in the same capacity with the Grand Rapids Blazers of the World Football League. He was part of championship teams with both franchises.
He started a 33-year head coaching career in 1969 at West Catholic and from 1969 to 1985 his teams were 157-44-2 while winning eight City League titles and being crowned via voting the mythical Class B state champions in 1974. Three times his teams made the state playoffs after they were established in 1975.
He stayed busy coaching in the “off-season” with the semi-pro Grand Rapids Eagles of the Charity Football League and The Grand Rapids Broncos of the Northern State Football League and won championships with both teams.
He became the head coach at what is now Grand Rapids Community College in 1985, following legendary coach Gordon Hunsberger and coached the Raiders until he retired in 2002. His teams went 139-48-2, played in seven junior college bowl games and were the national NJCAA runners-up in 1988.
Combined his head-coaching record was 296-92-4. He is in the West Catholic Hall of Fame, the Michigan Football Coaches Hall of Fame and NJCAA Football Hall of Fame.
Fred passed away in 2013. He was 75.