Inductees

Fifty-Year Football Coach (10 High School, 40 College). Two National Championships (Widener 1977 & 1981). Ten Conference Championships (Widener 1975, 1977-82, 1984, 1987-88). Twenty straight winning seasons (1970 to 1990). 212 college wins. National Coach of the Year (AFCA 1977 & ABC TV 1977 & 1978). Nine-time Conference Coach of the Year (1974-77, 1979-81, 1984, 1987-88). Numerous other awards. Coached two Pro Stars (Billy “White Shoes” Johnson and Joe Fields) and two College Hall of Famers (Johnson & Tom Deery). President AFCA (1991), Author, AD Widener, Conference President NCAA & ECAC, Committee Member and Chairman NFFHF & Gaeliardi Selection Committees. Still coaching and consultant for Delaware Valley College & Russian National Teams. Head Coach USA Team at Aztec Bowl vs. Mexico.

Inducted into International (1997), National (1989) and Pennsylvania (1985) Softball Halls of Fame. Recipient of the International Olympic Committee coveted Centenary Award. National President USA Softball (1986-1987) and Pennsylvania ASA Commissioner for 35 years. Presently Secretary of the General International Softball Federation leading world-wide crusade to restore Softball as Official Olympic Sport. Served on President’s Physical Fitness Commission. His leadership in Pennsylvania Softball as a player, coach and administrator was largely responsible for its growth as one of the most respected and prestigious of the 50 State Softball Organizations.

Pat was a Basketball Coach at Bucknell University for 14 years. He had a record of 234-178. He won the Patriot League three times – 2 league tourney crowns. Won “ESPY” Award for upset of Kansas in NCAA Tourney, 2005. In 2006, he reached second round of NCAA Tournament by beating Arkansas. He coached at Lebanon Valley for five years with a record of 95-43. He won NCAA Division III in 1994. He played at Bucknell. He received Malcolm Musser and Bison Awards. He was the Team captain – and had 779 points, 505 assists. He played at Pottsville High School and was All-State in Basketball with 1,351 points. Outstanding pitcher in baseball.

Harry coached girls’ basketball at Trinity High School in Camp Hill, PA, for 23 years (September 1985 to June 2007). During his coaching tenure he had a winning percentage of .822 in 712 games. He had 585 career wins, with 23 trips to the districts and states in 23 years. This was topped by two state titles. The 23 players he sent on to Division I schools, as well as numerous athletes that compete at Division II and III levels, was his greatest source of pride. Some of his achievements are two State Titles, seven State appearances, seven Eastern Titles, four 30-win seasons, sixteen 20-win seasons, nine District AA Titles and 13 Mid-Penn Championships (11 at the AAAA level).

Daley was a two-time All-American Lacrosse player at Temple University, where she captained the Lacrosse and Field Hockey teams. Ms. Daley was an All-American under legendary coach, Tina Sloan Green, and as captain of the team was an innovator in bringing the use of zone defense and power offense to women’s lacrosse. Many of her scoring records still stand. She was inducted into Temple’s Hall of Fame (2005), Delco Sports Hall of Fame (2006) and Philadelphia City All-Stars Chapter of the PA Sports Hall of Fame (2007). Kathie earned her M.Ed. and coaches Lacrosse at Springside School. She maintains an annual scholarship for student-athletes at Pennwood High School. She is married with two sons who are record holders in discus and fencing.

Head Football Coach at Millersville University for 31 years with a 212-89-6 record. Membership: Maxwell Football Clubs Board of Governors; NCAA Football Rules Committee; American Football Coaches Assoc.; NCAA Committee Safeguards & Medical Aspect of Sports; Chairman PSAC Football Committee (1983-1991); Philadelphia City All-Star Football “First & Goal” Award as an Outstanding Role Model. His teams won Lambert Meadowlands Cup & ECAC team of the year. He was the most victorious coach in MU football history and his length of service was the longest of any coach in any varsity sport dating back to 1889. He also was taken into four different Halls of Fame.

Ernie retired as the New York Giant’s Vice-President and General manager following the 2006 season, a distinguished 36-year career in the NFL. The Hershey High School athlete, Wake Forest grad, worked in Sports Information Departments of St. Joseph’s and Penn State Universities after an outstanding career as a writer at the time Baltimore Sun and Philadelphia Inquirer. Accorsi served as general manager of the Colts, Browns and ended his career with the Giants, in 2007. He built the Giants team that won the Super Bowl.

Accorsi’s acquisition of QB Eli Manning propelled the Giants to an NFL Championship. Accorsi had nine playoff teams, divisional and conference champions. Accorsi was named Executive of the Year by USA Today and the NFL.

Azar was a great three-sport athlete and outstanding Football Coach and Administrator at Johnstown High School. A First-Team All-Star and All-American guard on the 1958 WPIAL football champions.

Won 1959 PIAA 185-pound wrestling title. Three-year starter at guard in football and in baseball at Michigan State University. Played in 1962 North-South Shrine Game. Freshman football and wrestling coach at Lafayette. Offensive line coach at Penn University for 10 years. In 1985, rejoined Harry Gamble, becoming Assistant General Manager for the Philadelphia Eagles, serving 10 years. Member of several Halls of Fame.

Billy as an All-State Football and Basketball High School player in West Virginia. Was a 3-year starter at University of Pittsburgh. During his Senior year, named MVP and played in Hula Bowl and East-West Shrine and College All-Star Games. Drafted #2 by the Cleveland Browns in 1953, earning Eastern Division NFL MVP. Bill was named to the All-Service and All-Air Force Teams in 1955-1956. Returned to play four more seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Hamilton Tiger Cats and Oakland Raiders.

From 1933-1961 he coached basketball at Wampum High School and from 1962-1971 at Ellwood City High School. Coach Hennon’s career record was 621 wins, 251 loses for a winning percentage of 70%. His teams won 16 Sectional Titles, including 12 from 1950-1961 and three State and WPIAL Championships in 1955, 1958, and 1960. His coaching successes were featured in numerous national publications throughout his career. His son, Don Hennon, the University of Pittsburgh star was one of his greatest players.

About This Inductee:

Raised in Muse, Pennsylvania, Kotar graduated from Canon-McMillan High School and played college football at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

Unselected in the 1974 NFL Draft, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Four days later, they traded him to the New York Giants (for Leo Gasienica), where he played for eight years.

Though he was only 5 ft 10 in, Kotar rushed for 3,380 yards (while also receiving 1,022 yards) in his career, which was fourth most in Giants history, now ninth. Kotar was known for leading with his head while rushing, a fact that would come back to haunt him in later life.

Kotar retired after the first days training camp in July 1982, attributed to his knees and shoulder hurting, citing his family. Unfortunately, Kotar experienced massive headaches. Only weeks into his retirement, the doctors found a brain tumor.

He died in his sleep on December 16, 1983, just 16 months after diagnosis at age 32.

Won Olympic Gold Medals and set World Records in 800 Meters and 4X400 relay at the 1912 Olympics. With Jim Thorpe, one of games major stars. He was a member of the National and Pennsylvania Track & Field Halls of Fame. At the University of Pennsylvania in 1916 set world record in 440- and 880-yard sprints. He also set then world records at Media High School and participated in 1920 Olympics. Ted later coached at Penn and the Cuban and Czech National Teams.

Diane played field hockey, basketball and softball at Crestwood High School. As a freshman, she was part of the Crestwood’s first AA District Title field hockey team, reaching State quarterfinals. She was selected first team All-Star in both her freshman and sophomore years. As a junior, the team became Crestwood’s first league title winners, AA District champs and AA State runner-ups. As senior team captain, they again won the league title, AA District champs, and AA State third pale. She was selected MVP All-Star in both her junior and senior years. Diane also participated in the Keystone Games. At the University of Connecticut, the field hockey team won the NCAA Tournament, winning the National Championship in 1985. She was a two-time first team All-American and two-time Academic All-America. Team captain her senior year, she was named UConn Scholar-Athlete, New England Division I Female Athlete of the Year and received the Honda Broderick Award for the top collegiate field hockey player in the country. Diane was a member of the US Junior National Field Hockey Team 1987 and a member of the US National Team 1989-1991, 1995-1996. She has toured the world competing in the Pan Am Games, World Cup, World University Games, Intercontinental cup and 1996 Olympic Games. Diane volunteered to coach at UConn 1989-1991, moving on to become assistant coach at the University of Maine 1993-2002. She is presently head field hockey coach at Providence College in Rhode Island.

Crestwood High School-field hockey All-Star, basketball, softball
University of Connecticut-1985 NCAA Tourney & National Championship
All-American/Academic All-American/Senior UConn Scholar-Athlete
New England Vision I Female Athlete of the Year/Honda Broderick Award
1987-US Junior National Field Hockey Team
1989-1991, 1995-1996-US National Team
Pan Am Games/World Cup/World University Games
Intercontinental Cup/1996 Olympic Games
1993-2002-assistant coach-University of Maine
2002-head field hockey coach-Providence College
2006-Big East Conference Champs & Coach of the Year
Dita/NFHCA Division I Northeast Region Coach of the Year
2005 Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame
Inducted into PA Sports Hall of Fame 2008

Elected 1976 Mon Valley Sports Hall of Fame
2006 Ringgold Rams Hall of Fame
2008 Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame

Fred Cox, a 1957 graduate of Monongahela High School, was an all-around athlete lettering in four sports - football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. He made the All-Conference team as a running back, was the leading scorer of the soccer team, which only lost one game in three years, and batted over 300 every year in baseball. After graduating from high school, Fred starred at the University of Pittsburgh as a running back and kicker.

Fred was drafted as an eighth-round future choice in 1961 by the Cleveland Browns but had back trouble when he reported to camp in 1962 and was never given consideration as a running back. The Browns quickly traded Cox to the Minnesota Vikings, who cut Cox in 1962. He returned in 1963. Between that time Fred went back home to Monongahela and taught school. From 1963 until his retirement in 1977, Cox became an outstanding fixture for the Vikings.

He began studying at Northwestern Chiropractic Clinic in Minneapolis in 1967. Fred obtained his license to practice in 1972. He opened his own chiropractic clinic in Buffalo, Minnesota, after the 1974 football season.

One of the best athletes to emerge from the Philadelphia area, Walt was a highly recruited high school All-American in basketball averaging 30 points per game as a Philadelphia All-Public performer. He was a first-round pick of the Houston Astros in 1968 and a 27-1 American Legion record, voted MVP by the Philadelphia Inquirer and MVP in the East-West All-Star game. He reached the majors after a 28-15 minor league record and 1.95 ERA, but an injury shortened his career.

Walt was a football, track, and baseball star at Mt. Carmel High School. He went on to the University of Pennsylvania where he earned three letters each in baseball and football. He was a 60-minute player, averaging 53 minutes per game in 1954 when he was also the nation’s 6th ranked punter. That year he was also an HM All-American, All-Ivy, All-East, and All-State. A USAF jet pilot, Walt played on the Johnson AFB two-time Far East Inter-Service Championship Team and was named to the All-USAF Team.

Jim was an all-around athlete at Beaver Falls High School earning 8 letters in football, basketball, and baseball. He garnered All-WPIAL and second-team All-State football honors as a senior. He went to Notre Dame and played defensive end as a sophomore and was a starting receiver and team captain in his junior and senior seasons. After two years in the Marine Corp, Jim played for the Baltimore Colts from 1954-1961 catching 220 passes for 3,885 yards and 40 touchdowns and earned Pro-Bowl honors in 1957.

Dick was a four-sports star and Valedictorian of his class at Ashland High School. He went on to be a four-year starter and team captain at quarterback for Susquehanna University garnering All-State honors in 1956 and 1957 and Little All-American recognition in 1957. After a one-year stint with the Montreal Alouettes he began a 38-year teaching and coaching career, including 25 years as the head football coach and a 167-94-5 record. He was a PSFCA Hall of Fame inductee in 2004.

About This Inductee:

Basketball, Track & Field
Trinity High School & Penn State University

T.H.S. Accomplishments:
BASKETBALL:
1st person at T.H.S. to score 1,000 pts.

TRACK:
8 time WPIAL Honors
8 time State Medalist
3 time ranked # 1 in Nation for Shot Put
Currently hold PIAA. State Shot Put Record (19 years) International Track and Field Competitor

Penn State Accomplishments:
8 time All American
Currently hold Penn State Shot Put Record (15 years) Competed in Olympic Trials (1980, 1984)

Special Awards:
Special Recognition Award – Knights of Columbus – Washington County Pittsburgh Women’s Hall of Fame
Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
PA High School Track & Field Hall of Fame PA Coaches’ Association

Sobansky was a three-time WPIAL and PIAA champion in the shot put. She also was a PIAA champion in the discus. In high school, she ranked #1 in the nation for shot put and was in Sports Illustrated “Faces in the Crowd” for establishing a girls’ indoor high school national record of 50’ 10”.

In 1980, she was named the Post Gazette Female Athlete of the Year.

Her career flourished at Penn State where she was an eight-time All American. While at Penn State, she set outdoor records in the shot put and discus.

At the 1984 Olympic trials, she finished 6th in the shot put. Sobansky was the first person at Trinity High School to score more than 1,000 points in basketball.

She is a member of the Pittsburgh Women’s Hall of Fame.

Bob was a star in the star-studded backfield for a powerful Princeton University team that won a school record of 24 straight games, two Lambert Trophies, and was ranked 6th in the nation by AP in 1950. That year he was one of the top ten scorers in the country and was named All-American in 1952. Out of Pottsville High School, he garnered 15 letters in all sports and was an All-State performer in football and basketball.

Pete was the American League Cy Young Award winner in 1982 when he led the Milwaukee Brewers to the World Series. He was also their top pitcher in 1981. Over his eleven-year big-league career he also spent time with St. Louis and Toronto. He was an All-NAIA District 18 selection all four years at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, was an All-PSAC pick three years, and an NAIA All-American in 1974. He was the Pirates’ pitching coach from 1996-2000.

First round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1972. Played from 972-1983 and elected to NFL Hall of Fame in 1990. Team career leader in rushing yards (11,950) and touchdowns (91). Played in four Super Bowls and was MVP in Super Bowl VI. He was on the receiving end of the NFL’s widely recognized greatest play – the “Immaculate Reception.” A member of the Steelers’ 75th Anniversary Team and NFL “Man of the Year” in 1976, Franco was a three-year starter at Penn State and a high school All-American.

Luzerne, Pennsylvania native
A stylish boxer, won 34 of first 39 fights (9 knockouts)
Changing to slugging style, had successful winning streak 16 of 17 fights (4 knockouts)
Had shot at middleweight title in 1954 against “Bobo” Olson
15-round fight went to Olson on judges’ decision
Next 3 years, fought 13 times, winning 7 (including split-decision loss to Sugar Ray Robinson)
Retired in 1957 with impressive record of 65-13-4 (16 knockouts)
Was also a referee and judge
Inducted into PA Sports Hall of Fame in 2007

Professional boxer, began in 1944 and continued through 1957. Had 82 fights, won 65, lost 13, and drew 4. In 1954, lost 15 round decision to Bobo Olson in championship middleweight fight. Fought other greats including Sugar Ray Robinson, Joey Giardello, Kid Gavilan, and Gene Fullmer. Born in Luzerne, Pa., he later became known as “the pride of the coal regions.” Rocky served in the U.S. Marine Corps and fought in the battle for Iwo Jima. While overseas fighting in the war, he earned the boxing title “Champion of all China and Guam.” After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, Rocky embarked on a stupendous career as a professional middleweight prize fighter, being awarded Ring Magazine’s honor of “Rookie of the Year.”

Rocky also earned the right to fight for the Middleweight Championship of the World as the number one middleweight contender in 1954. He fought for the Middleweight Title of the World against Carl “Bobo” Olsen. Rocky lost a split decision, knocking Olsen down in the 3rd round, gaining the respect of the entire international boxing community.

Rocky’s career as a professional fighter also included notable battles against “Sugar Ray” Robinson, landing Robinson on the canvas for a controversial 8-count. Many scholars of the sport believed Rocky won by the knockout. This bout, as well as his fight with boxing great Gene Fullmer, are constantly featured on ESPN “Classic Fights of the Century.”

Rocky was inducted into both the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Boxing Halls of Fame and was inducted into the PA Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. He retired with a record of 65-13-4 with 16 knockouts. He proceeded to pursue a career as local tavern owner of Rocky Castellani & Sons in Atlantic City and Galloway Township. In addition, Rocky continued to give back to the AC Community and the boxing world by volunteering his time to the AC & Pleasantville PAL, teaching local youth the basics of his sport, known as the “sweet science,” and sponsoring local softball, baseball and basketball teams.

In his retirement, he served as a judge for the NJ Boxing Commission and enjoyed the time he spent with his loving wife and 10 grandchildren. He died on August 31, 2008.

Dr. Kenneth Diminick is another of the famous sons of the legendary Mt. Carmel coach, Joe “Jazz” Diminick. Playing for his father at Mt. Carmel Area, Ken led the Red Tornadoes to a perfect 24-0 record in 1972 and 1973, his junior and senior seasons. Mt. Carmel defeated Valley View and Dunmore for the Eastern Conference Championship at the end of each season. Ken was a team Co-captain in 1973. In his three-year starting career at Mr. Carmel, Ken scored 29 touchdowns. In 1973, he led the Tornadoes with 925 rushing yards. His career total was 1,454. He caught a total of 29 passes for a three-year total of 647 yards. Ken was also outstanding as a punt and kickoff returner, electrifying the Red Tornado crowds and standing second in Mt. Carmel annals to his brother Gary – with a career total of 947 yards. Ken was equally adept as a defensive back. He received All-State mention in both 1972 and 1973. In his Mr. Carmel career, Ken averaged 10.4 yards each time he touched the ball and totaled 3,048 all-purpose yards. After the 1973 season, he was given both the coveted Mike Terry and Len Eshmont Awards. Ken was named to the 1974 Pennsylvania Big 33 team which defeated Ohio 14-7.

After his graduation, Ken entered Villanova University and played on the 1974, 1975 and 1976 Wildcat football teams. He was a three-year letterman and a starter at running back and kick returner. As a senior, he was Villanova’s leading rusher with a 5.2-yard average. Ken scored the winning touchdown for the Wildcats against his Dad’s Alma Mater, Boston College – the week after BC upset No. 1 Texas. He graduated from Villanova holding the Wildcat single season and career kickoff return records.

Joe Glenn was a professional baseball player for 23 seasons. His major league career spanned nine years - 1932 to 1940 – and included some of the New York Yankees’ most glorious seasons. He joined the Yankees on August 24, 1932 at the age of 23. He made the Yankees 1932 World Series roster and caught for the New York Yankees in 1932, 1933, and 1935 through 1938. He was with the St. Louis Browns in 1939 and the Boston Red Sox in 1940. For the Yankees, he was the back-up to the great Bill Dickey. Joe was the Yankees’ catcher for the last game pitched by Babe Ruth in 1933. On August 24, 1940, he caught the only game the immortal Ted Williams pitched for the Boston Red Sox. Williams pitched in relief that day.

The Yankees nicknamed Joe “Gabber.” He kept his big-league teammates on their toes through his entire career with his constant bench chatter. Joe played in 248 games and had a lifetime batting average of .252. He hit five home runs and drove in 89 runs. His most productive season was probably 1939 with the Browns when he hit .273 and drove in 29 runs. Joe batted and threw right-handed. He was 5-11 and weighed 175 pounds.