His soccer prowess started to come into focus as an upperclassman when he was nominated by game officials for the U.S. All-American Soccer Team as both a junior and senior. Following his junior season in 1956-57, Vicchy was selected to participate in the North/South Sunshine Bowl All-Star Game as the starting center halfback.
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As a senior, Vicchy was named a team captain of legendary head coach Jim Egli’s first great team. Vicchy led a Slippery Rock team that outscored its opponents 22-5 to a 6-1 record.
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When he wasn’t excelling on the field, Vicchy was busy as the president of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity and setting the school’s health and physical education record for sit-ups. He graduated from Slippery Rock in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and social studies.
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Vicchy spent his first six years post graduation as a teacher and swimming/water polo coach at Slippery Rock High School and Strong Vincent High School. His talent as a coach was undeniable. Despite his young age, Vicchy racked up four Erie City Coaches Association Swim Coach of the Year, two Erie City Coaches Association Water Polo Coaches of the Year, and three Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Western Region Swim Coach of the Year awards before departing high school sports to become the head swimming coach at Kent State University in 1964.
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He guided the Golden Flashes for eight seasons and was named the Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year in his final season at KSU in 1972. Vicchy briefly returned to the high school ranks to coach swimming at Sheridan High School in Wyoming for three seasons before jumping back into college coaching at the University of Wyoming from 1975-84. He was tabbed as the Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1980-81. Vicchy concluded his coaching career at Pinedale High School (1984-90) and Belleville High School (1990-93) before retiring from full-time coaching.
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