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Feb. 24—Wilkinsburg native Joe Fusco, a 2001 College Football Hall of Fame coaching inductee and one of the most successful coaches in the history of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, died Saturday.
He was 87.
Fusco served as Westminster’s head coach from 1972-99 and led the Titans to four NAIA Division II national championships with back-to-back titles in 1976 and 1977 and again in 1988 and 1989.
The program enjoyed long winning streaks during those title years. Westminster was 21-1 between 1976 and 1977 and won 27 games in a row between the 1988 and 1989 seasons.
The 1977 Titans team, which went 11-0, took home the Lambert Trophy which recognizes success in eastern college football.
Fusco is Westminster football’s all-time leader in coaching wins with a 154-34-3 (.814 win percentage) record during his 19 years as coach.
He was recognized as one of ESPN’s 150 greatest coaches in college football’s 150-year history in 2019. He ranked 69th after a selection process conducted by 150 media members, administrators and former players and coaches.
Fusco was honored as Westminster’s Letterman of Distinction in 2012. He became just the fifth former student-athlete to receive the honor.
He played for legendary coach Dr. Harold E. Burry at Westminster from 1957-59 and was an All-West Penn Conference lineman.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in history in 1960 and received a master’s of education degree in 1965.
Fusco then completed the requirements for a doctor of philosophy in education from Pitt.
His coaching career began at nearby Wilmington and Grove City high schools where he posted a 55-14-3 combined record in eight seasons before joining Burry’s Westminster staff as an offensive line coach in 1968.
Fusco helped the Titans win the 1970 NAIA national championship.
His Westminster head-coaching tenure included…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/former-westminster-coach-college-football-190600987.html
Author : The Valley News-Dispatch, Tarentum, Pa.
Publish date : 2025-02-24 19:06:00
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