Loras College Athletics

• Although he never played a down, took a shot or went to bat in a Loras uniform, few people have been as much a part of the history of Duhawk athletics.
• One of the Loras athletic program's most loyal supporters, Noonan has witnessed more events than perhaps any fan in Loras history. He spent 15 years as a volunteer baseball coach, 25 years as a timer for basketball games and 44 years as a track and field judge in addition to countless other volunteer duties related to Loras athletics.
• Has played a vital role in the selection commitee for the Loras Athletic Hall of Fame since its induction in 1983.
• Earning the distinguished honor of Professor Emeritus from his alma mater upon retirement in 1984 after 45 years of teaching economics, Noonan continued to teach part-time.

Stories

We were playing a game and Frank Noonan was coaching first base. He and my brother Gerald Potts were permanent fixtures at the scoring table for our basketball games.
 
The opponent pitcher was a very, very hard throwing right-hander. As I was getting ready to step into the batters box when Frank called me down to first base. He cupped his hands to my ear and whispered, “I have their signals. Do you want them?” Now my mother didn’t raise any dummies so I said sure. As I returned to the batters box, I looked toward Frank and he gave me the signal of a curveball. Good, here it comes. I waited and waited for it to break. It didn’t! God was with me, I just got my head out of the way in time. The ball hit the bill of my batting helmet and flew up in the air like a helicopter blade! Needless to say Frank and I talked again when I reached first base and I told him to never ever give me another stolen signal as long as I lived. A classic Frank reply was, “I cannot help he crossed up the catcher.” I had to laugh, Frank was such a neat man. 

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