Printer-Friendly Format   E-mail this article     Billy Vizzini - 1971-2007
	Football Home HEADLINES Florida State Football Summer Conditioning Christian Ponder vs. Shawn Powell: Nine Hole Golf Challenge Great Moments in Florida State Football: Volume II RELATED LINKS • Follow all of the college football action at CollegeSports.com • Email this to a friend

In memory of a dear member of our Seminole family.

Oct. 31, 2007

The Florida State Athletic Department lost a dear member of its family Tuesday night. Billy Vizzini, 36, the Seminoles' Director of Coach's Video passed away in Tallahassee following a battle with cancer.

Florida State football would not be what it is today without the efforts and talents of head coach Bobby Bowden. The same could be said about Florida State's coaches' video department when it comes to director Billy Vizzini. A 1993 graduate of Florida State University, Vizzini was a member of the coaches' video staff since 1994 and headed the department since 1997. With his research and knowledge, Vizzini brought Florida State athletics to the cutting edge in terms of providing the Seminoles with the most advanced and sophisticated systems in the country.

Vizzini oversaw a staff that videos all practices and games for many of Florida State's sports. They provide film breakdown and analysis of not only the Seminoles themselves, but that of their opponents. Some of their other responsibilities include producing team and individual tapes, coordinating tape exchange and television taping schedules, and providing assistance with the purchase of video equipment for the individual sports.

Vizzini, himself, worked primarily with Florida State's nationally-renowned football and oversaw all of FSU's varsity sports programs. From 1994-97, he served as the video coordinator for the basketball programs and the Olympic sports.  He was highly-skilled in several video systems including the Omega Edit System, Avid Sports Pro, DVCAM, Betacam and SVHS cameras, Sony Be 910, Webb Coaches Playmaker and XO's Sportspro.

Most recently Vizzini headed an alliance for FSU with XOS Technologies, Inc., which made FSU one of only six site licenses nationally.  This enabled FSU to improve their video operations across the board.  In 1998 Vizzini led the way in sports video by choosing to use the Omega system for coach's video.  FSU was among the first major schools to adopt this software, which was developed by FSU grads Bryan and David Engelke and go totally tapeless.  After winning the National Championship in 1999, the system became adopted nationwide.

After joining the Collegiate Sports Video Association (CSVA) in 1999, Vizzini quickly rose to a leadership position and was elected Vice President.  Additionally, he was the chairman of the CSVA National Convention Committee and was instrumental in the growth and development of the CSVA Annual Conference, increasing member and sponsor involvement threefold in less than four years.  Two years ago he was named the CSVA representative to the Sports Video Group (SVG), a sports technology group that spans sports broadcasting networks, sports and broadcast technology manufacturers and developers, and sports teams and franchises.  He was a charter member of the SVG Board of Directors.

A New Orleans, La., native, Vizzini earned a master's degree in athletic administration from Florida State in 1995 and his undergrad in Meteorology from FSU. He was an active member of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and the Tallahassee Quarterback Club. For the last several years, Vizzini also served as the assistant camp director for Team Camp USA which is held during summers in Tallahassee. 

Vizzini is survived by his mother Yolanda, his father Bill, his stepmother Ann, his sister Tina and his two nieces. Services will be announced as information becomes available.