By Jim Raykie
Editor, The Herald
MOON TOWNSHIP — Legendary Farrell High basketball coach Edward J. McCluskey was inducted posthumously into the WPIAL Hall of Fame during a ceremony that attracted more than 500 guests Friday night near Pittsburgh.
In addition to McCluskey, who died in January 1987, former Duke University and Pittsburgh Pirates’ standout Dick Groat, Wampum High and University of Pittsburgh basketball star Don Hennon, and former Midland High and three-time NBA All-Star Norm Van Lier were among the honorees at The Embassy Suites Hotel.
While introducing the 2008 group of inductees, toastmaster Paul Alexander, a veteran Pittsburgh area TV sports announcer, told the large crowd, many of whom were basketball coaches, “With all due respect to all, Ed McCluskey forgot more basketball than any of you may know ... He was one of the great basketball minds of our time ... Any coach, at any time, would marvel at how his teams played.”
He was described in the banquet program by the WPIAL as “the John Wooden of WPIAL basketball coaches,” an extraordinary comparison to the former UCLA and NCAA coaching giant.
Wayne McCluskey, the late coach’s nephew who lives in Pittsburgh, accepted the award for him. “He was the most inspiring human being I’ve ever met ... Growing up I thought there were Three Wise Men. I then realized that there were four.”
“He respected his players, and was the most strict disciplinarian who I ever knew ... God bless you Uncle Ed,” he added.
The night included a great deal of reminiscing at the table from Farrell High School, which included school board member and ex-athletic director Chuck Branca; Col. Donald Jones, who led Farrell to its 1956 state championship; Gene Sarazen, coach of the Sharon High School Lady Tigers; Jim Tamber; Vince Cardamon; Dr. James Kollar, a leader of the 1954 state championship team; Frank Sincek, a key member of the 1959 state championship team, a longtime McCluskey assistant and ex-Farrell High coach; Marc Knezevich of Pittsburgh, a member of the 1970 team; and Louis Paris, athletic director at Farrell High.
McCluskey, who began coaching at Farrell in 1948, won 590 games in 29 seasons while losing only 153, a winning percentage of more than 80. His 11 WPIAL championships and 7 PIAA state Big School crowns are still tops in state basketball history.
McCluskey was named one of Western Pennsylvania’s Top 100 Sports Figures of the 20th Century by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in January 2000, joining an elite list of area college and professional celebrities. In addition, he was the recipient of the prestigious Coach of the Year Award from the National High School Coaches Association.
After a 6-16 season in his first year in 1948-49, McCluskey’s teams went a remarkable 181-17 in the next seven seasons, culminating in three state championships and a handful of near-misses.
Of McCluskey’s 29 seasons at the helm, his Steelers won at least 20 games in 16 seasons, and a career high of 30 in the 1959-60 season. While he never had an undefeated campaign, his teams lost one game in each of three seasons — 1951-52, 1959-60 and 1968-69.
During a stretch of five seasons from 1967 through 1972, McCluskey’s teams lost only 18 games while winning 113 games and two PIAA state crowns in 1969 and 1972.
Others enshrined Friday night were Ron “Po” James of New Brighton, former NFL players; Colleen Rosensteele, a track and field star from Greensburg Central Catholic; Candy Young Sanders, track star from Beaver Falls High School; Chuck Klausing, famous Braddock High School football coach; Sheron Watson, Norwin High School volleyball coach; Swin Cash, basketball star from McKeesport High School, University of Connecticut and the WNBA; Michelle Crow, swimming star from Gateway High School; Cliff Fair, a basketball and football official; and Larry Hanley, former executive director of the WPIAL.
Three teams were honored — the 1967 undefeated Ambridge High School basketball team; the 1945 Donora High School football team; and the Shaler High School 1980 baseball team.
Steve Garay of Hermitage, former basketball coach at Hickory High who was an assistant coach in 1967 at Ambridge, was on hand Friday to help celebrate the team’s accomplishment. That team, coached by the late Chuck DeVenzio, was led by future North Carolina star Dennis Wuycik, Purdue star Frank Kaufman and the late Dick DeVenzio.
McCluskey coached at Burgettstown and Midland before coming to Farrell, and coached at California State University and Kennedy Catholic High School after retiring from Farrell in 1977.
In addition, former Mercer High School standout Bill Snodgrass, a teammate of Van Lier at St. Francis College, attended the dinner to celebrate with his ex-teammate.
The WPIAL Hall of Fame was created last year during the league’s celebration of its 100th anniversary.
