Fred Martinelli coached at Ashland for 35 years from 1959 to 1993 and compiled a record of 217-119-12, a .641 winning percentage. His teams won five Heartland Conference Championships and five Mid-Ohio Conference Crowns. His 1967 and 1972 teams were undefeated. His 1986 team was the first in school history to reach the NCAA Division II Playoffs. Martinelli coached 72 All-Americans, Eight Academic All-Americans, three NCAA Post-Graduate Scholars, two National Football Foundation Scholar-Athletes and Bill Royce, the first Ashland and GLIAC player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2016. Martinelli was a member of the NCAA Division II Football Committee for four years and served as National Chair in 1984.