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Coaches Hall of Fame Inductees
2002
Bios of the 2009 Hall of Fame inductees can be seen on the MCCHOF Banquet Page
Ken Davis Community Coaches Honor Roll Inductees
2003
2006
2007
Bios of the 2009 Honor Roll inductees can be seen on the MCCHOF Banquet Page.
Vince
Souto Lifetime Achievement Award
2005
2007
2008 2009 Bio of the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient can be seen on the MCCHOF Banquet Page. Bob Levy
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Beth
Anders – Graduate of Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School. All-American
in both Lacrosse and Field Hockey at Ursinus College in nearby Collegeville.
Led Team USA to the Bronze medal in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic
Games. Scored 8 of the teams 9 goals to established scoring record
that still stands today. Coached Old Dominion to nine NCAA National
Championships. She has amassed 400 plus career wins, tops in Division-1
Field Hockey history.
Tom
Lasorda – Norristown Native, Major League Baseball Player,
Major League Manager for Los Angeles Dodgers for 20 years, won four
National League Pennants and two World Series. He was enshrined
into National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY in 1997.
Managed Gold Medal winning baseball team (Team USA) in 2000 Sydney
Olympics.
Hank
Stofko – Plymouth-Whitemarsh Head Basketball Coach for
32 years where he has amassed a 583-231 record. His teams have won
eight Suburban One League titles and four District 1 crowns, reaching
the state championship game on two occasions including winning it
in 1963. He has a total of 654 career wins as a High School Coach.
This total includes short stints at Warwick, which is now part of
Owen J. Roberts School District and Boyertown High.
Jim
Crawford – The legendary Track & Field Coach from Lansdale/North
Penn had teams that posted an incredible 276-7 dual meet record
during a tenure that included 22 consecutive Bux-Mont League titles
between 1948 until his retirement in 1969. Crawford, who passed
away in 1996 at the age of 88, was inducted into the Souderton-North
Penn Hall of Fame and had the North Penn High School stadium named
after him in 1991.
Mike
Pettine – Conshohocken native coached football at Central
Bucks West High School where his teams put up staggering numbers
over his 32 year career. CB West had a 327-42-4 record including
15 undefeated seasons, 22 Bux-Mont and Suburban One crowns, five
District-1 Football crowns and four PIAA Class-AAAA State Football
Championships. CB West posted an incredible 106-8 record during
the 1990’s including a national record 53 game winning streak.
Dick
Shoulberg – A Norristown High School graduate who became
a nationally-acclaimed swimming coach at Germantown Academy in Fort
Washington where they won 28 Inter-Ac League titles. He has coached
12 Olympic swimmers and eight American record holders. He has also
served as the U.S. Olympic advisory coach and was head coach and
assistant of the USA Pan-American and U.S. World Championship teams.
Fritz
Brennan - Brennan came to the area on a football scholarship
to La Salle College and never left. After his playing days, he became
Lower Merion’s Football Coach from 1953-1969 where his teams
accumulated six undefeated seasons. His teams would not lose a game
from 1953 into the 1957 season, when Lower Merion set a state record
with 37 consecutive wins, only to be stopped by Norristown High
in 1957. His final record was 105-33-5 for a .761 winning percentage.
He also helped create the Montgomery County All-Star Game and was
inducted into both the Big 33 and LaSalle University Hall of Fames.
He passed away suddenly in 1988.
Hank
DeMito – A graduate of St. Patrick’s High School,
he went on to be Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School’s baseball
coach for 33 years. His teams have amassed 21 league titles, 2 District-1
titles and the PIAA state title in 1994. They have only had one
losing season and the team’s winning percentage during his
tenure is an astounding .698 including a 29 game winning streak.
Art
Kehoe – An Archbishop Kennedy High school football product.
After stops at Milford Prep in Connecticut and Laney Junior College
in California, he transferred to Miami University where he played
Guard for Howard Schnellenberger’s Hurricanes where they won
the Peach Bowl in 1980. He joined the Hurricane’s Coaching
staff in 1981 and never looked back. Kehoe has been coaching football
at the University of Miami for 24 seasons. His official title is
Assistant Head Football Coach His coaching tenure on the Miami offensive
line has produced six first-team All-Americans, 14 All-Big East
selections, one Outland Trophy and 16 professional players. He has
coached in 19 bowl games and has been inducted into the Laney JC
Hall of Fame in 2001 and also to the Miami University Hall of Fame
in 2002.
Bob
Schaefer – Bob grew up in West Hazelton and has been the
Cheltanham Girls Basketball coach for 23 years, amassing an incredible record
of 554-120, for a .822 winning percentage. His teams have won 18
consecutive Suburban One titles and four District-1 titles. The
1999 team advanced to the state title game before losing. In 2000,
they captured the ultimate title, winning the PIAA state title,
finishing the year with a 32-1 record. Bob has been tabbed with
numerous Coach of the Year honors. 
Bobby
Wine - Currently employed by the Atlanta Braves as a Scout.
Bobby was a Major League player for 12 years, 8 with the Phillies
and 4 with the Expos. He played over 1100 games and then became
a coach with the Phillies for 12 seasons, including the 1980 World
Series Champions and 1983 National League Pennant winning club.
He moved on to the Braves organization where he was named manager
for the final 41 games of the 1985 season. When Bob is home here
in Trooper, he volunteers to coach hundreds of youngsters, notably
boys and girls connected with Visitation BVM's recreation programs.
Jim
Algeo - In his 37th season as head football coach at Lansdale
Catholic High School, Algeo led the Crusaders to a 14-1 record and
the PIAA Class-AA state championship. His teams have recorded a
258-145-15 record during his tenure, including eight league titles,
three district-1 crowns and five teams that have reached the Eastern
PA finals or semi-finals. Among his many awards include being named
PA Class-AA Coach of the year by the AP and the PA Scholastic Football
Coaches Association and also the state’s small school coach
of the year award. He was also inducted in to the North Penn/Souderton
Hall of Fame. 
Geno
Auriemma – A Bishop Kenrick graduate who coached at Kenrick
from 1979-1981. He then served as an assistant women’s basketball
coach at Virginia University from 1981-1985. He took over the women’s
basketball head coach position at Connecticut in 1985. He inherited
a program that had just one winning season in it’s history.
His accomplishments have been well documented. During an unparalleled
20-year stint at UConn, his Huskies have a 557-111 record for a
.834 winning percentage. They have a national record with 70 straight
victories, 13 Big East titles, Ten 30-win seasons, eight final four
appearances and five national championships. He has two undefeated
seasons. The 1994-95 team went 35-0 and the 2001-02 team went 39-0.
He has been selected national coach of the year four times and coached
six national players of the year and 10 first-team all-americans.
He was also an assistant coach on the 2000 Sydney Olympics Gold
Medal winning team.
Al
Cantello – A graduate of Norristown High School where he
won the state javelin title, Cantello later competing for the U.S.
Marines Corps, set a world record in the javelin throw (over 283
feet) that vaulted him to a spot in the 1960 U.S. Olympics in Rome.
Sport Magazine selected him for it’s All-Time track & field
team. He was the first track and field coach at Methacton High School
and in 1967 was named head coach of the U.S. Naval Academy's cross
country team, a position he holds today. His teams have won over
75% of their 300 meets. He is also a member of Norristown High School’s
Hall of Fame.
Marge
Watson – Started out coaching field hockey and basketball
at Church Farms School in Chester County. She started the lacrosse
program at Ursinus College where she compiled a 199-19 mark during
a 25-year career as head coach. She also served as head coach of
the U.S. National team coach in 1980 and then served for nine years
as an assistant coach on the national team.
Bill
Werkiser – He was a top-shelf athlete and also a Norristown
High graduate who went on and played basketball at Millersville
State College where he set a school scoring record. He spent 40
years as a coach including 15 years with Norristown High school.
During that time, the Eagles’ Basketball team had a 291-87
record and won nine Suburban One crowns, a pair of District One
titles and twice advanced to the PIAA state title game. Overall
they made seven state playoff appearances. While at Norristown High
School, he served as the 1974 assistant Football coach and 1965
head baseball coach.. He also served as the men's basketball coach
at Delaware Valley College for 11 years. 
Dan Dougherty – Episcopal Academy basketball coach. Dougherty is
one of the legendary basketball coaches of the area, with a high school career
dating back to 1959 at St. Pius X. He also coached at Malvern Prep before
jumping to the collegiate level with Villanova. Teaming with heralded head coach
Jack Kraft, Dougherty was a key cog in the team that advanced to the National
Championship game of the NCAA tournament in 1971. That team barely lost to one
of the greatest UCLA teams of all-time. After that year, Dougherty moved to West
Point to take over the head coaching job at Army from Bobby Knight. When he left
Army in 1975, he handed the reins over to Mike Krzyzewski. After a year at
Penncrest, Dougherty landed the head coaching job at Episcopal Academy, where he
has been ever since. His overall record at Episcopal is 503-192. He has posted
seven undefeated seasons.
Jim Mich – Former football coach and current athletic director at
St. Pius X High School. The fact that the stadium at St. Pius X High is named
Coach Mich Stadium just about says it all. Arguably, no coach in the area has
meant more to the overall athletic program of a high school than Mich. After
graduating from East Stroudsburg College, he was named head football coach at
St. Pius X at age 21. For the last 47 years he has been either football coach or
athletic director at the school, or both. Last season, he returned from his
administrative duties to take over the coaching reins of the football team in
mid-season. During his initial 26-year tenure as football coach, Mich’s teams
compiled a 158-89-11 record. He won three Suburban Catholic League titles before
the school joined the PIAA. Mich was named PIAA District 1 Coach of the Year
four times. For eight years he served as an assistant coach at Kutztown
University. In 1999 he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football
Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Vince Panzano – U.S. Olympic and Ohio State diving coach. One of the most
highly respected diving coaches in the world, three-time Olympic coach Panzano
is in his 27th season as head diving coach at Ohio State . A product of Upper
Merion High, Panzano graduated from Ohio State in 1973, then began his coaching
career at the University of Tennessee . He returned to his alma mater in 1978.
During his career, Panzano has produced one world champion, one junior world
champion, two Olympic medalists, 22 U.S. diving champions, 10 NCAA champions, 45
Big Ten champions and 67 All-Americans. Among the many awards bestowed upon him,
Panzano has been honored as NCAA Diving Coach of the Year three times and Big
Ten Diving Coach of the Year eight times.
Bob Shoudt – Renowned track and field coach on both the high school and
collegiate levels. The well-traveled Shoudt has had success follow him wherever
he goes. Starting at Norristown High in 1969, Shoudt’s cross country and track
and field legacy includes stops at Ursinus, West Chester University, Villanova,
Ursinus again and Springfield (Montco) High. Highlights include a 207-7 record
at Norristown High, NCAA Division I Track Coach of the Year at Villanova in
1984, many league Coach of the Year awards at every level and more all-league,
all-district, all-state and All-America performers than can be counted. One of
Shoudt’s proudest coaching moments came in 1973 when he led Norristown High to
the Eastern National Interscholastic Team Championship, the first Pennsylvania
school ever to win the title.
Phil
Martelli – A native of Delaware County and a
graduate of Widener University, Martelli began making his name as a head
coach at Bishop Kenrick High. In his seven years guiding the
Knights, his accomplishments were so outstanding that he earned
consideration as one of Montgomery County’s greatest coaches.
Never before or after Martelli has the school ever been
considered a consistent basketball power, but he led Kenrick to
a school-record six consecutive Catholic League playoff
appearances. At St. Joseph’s Martelli quickly developed a
reputation as a savvy coach, as well as one of the most colorful
personalities in the country. His highlight came in 2004 when he
led the Hawks to the No. 1 ranking in the country (27-0 record) and earned NCAA Coach of the Year honors. While his annual accomplishments
on Hawk Hill are impressive, it is in the community where Martelli makes the most impact. He is one of the leaders of the
Coaches vs. Cancer effort in Philadelphia and is a tireless
spokesman for the fund-raising effort.
Brian
Thomas – has had baseball in his blood since
his high school days at Plymouth Whitemarsh High. A star player, he
joined the Army after high school and was a highly decorated veteran
in Vietnam. Upon his return, he received an undergraduate degree
from Philadelphia University.He began his coaching career at Perkiomen Valley
High then became a coach and administrator at the Perkiomen School.
In 1990 he became head baseball coach at Ursinus College and began
building a successful program. He took Ursinus to its first NCAA
Division III tournament in 1999 and is now the winningest baseball
coach in school history. He has more than 300 college victories. Thomas’ accomplishments are even more impressive
on the Jr. American Legion level, where he has coached teams to the
Pennsylvania Jr. Legion Sectional and State playoffs more than 15
times. He holds an unofficial state record of 41 straight Jr. Legion
league victories. Thomas was voted to the Pennsylvania American
Legion Sports Hall of Fame in 1999 and was inducted into the
Perkiomen School Hall of Athletic Honor in 2001. 
Steve
Harner – When the sport of wrestling is mentioned, the
name of Steve Harner is always the first to enter the discussion.
Nobody has combined a passion for the sport, along with success at
the high school and national level the way Harner has. For 20 years, from 1985 to 2004, Harner built a
powerhouse wrestling program at Norristown High. During that tenure,
the Eagles won eight Suburban One championships. They were also
Section Champions six times, District Champions three times and
Regional Champions three times. While Harner is very proud of the fact that 22 of
his Norristown High wrestlers received All-America honors, he is
equally proud of his 10 Academic All-America selections. Harner also
produced 38 all-state wrestlers at Norristown. Although Harner is all about his team
accomplishments, he was named Suburban One Coach of the Year eight
times. Another three times he was named District 1 Coach of the Year.
Fran
Murphy -twice honored as
Football Coach of the Year, led his high school alma mater, Upper Merion, High
to 1971 and 1972 Suburban League championships, and piloted the Pennsylvania Big
33 squad to a 21-19 victory over Archie Griffin-led Ohio in 1973. A 35-year
Upper Merion faculty member, Murphy led his varsity gridmen to a 96-51-4 record
over 15 seasons (a .653 winning percentage). In 1999, two decades
after retiring as Upper Merion head coach, he was named Honorary
Coach at the Montgomery County All-Star Football Game.
Libby
Williams –
coached with great success in
Montgomery County at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School (Girls’ Athletic Director)
and Ursinus College following five undefeated field hockey and five undefeated
basketball seasons at Upper Darby High. A member of the U.S. Field Hockey Assn.
and the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame, Ms. Williams also served as the Canadian
National Lacrosse team’s head coach. At Plymouth-Whitemarsh she coached
basketball and led the filed hockey team (61-14-6) to five
championships and guided the lacrosse squad (92-13 in 14 years) to
eight titles.
James
(Skip) Wilson – ranks second
only to legendary Connie Mack in number of lifetime victories
managed/coached by a Philadelphia professional or college baseball
pilot. His Temple Owls posted a total of 1,034 wins, twice advanced
to the College World Series in Omaha, and went to 14 NCAA
post-season tournaments. Temple’s baseball field, at its Ambler,
Montgomery County campus, was officially named in his honor in
April, 2007. A Montgomery County resident for nearly three decades,
Wilson is a multiple Hall of Fame entrant, including Temple
University (1981) and the American Baseball Coaches Assn. (1987). As
a reflection of his mentoring, more than 100 of Wilson’s Temple
players advanced to professional baseball careers.
Larry
Wilson – is now in his 31st consecutive school
year as head track & field and cross country coach at Montgomery County’s
Gwynned Mercy Academy. He has produced individual champions (17 Pennsylvania
Division AA titles and 60 District AA crowns), and has led Gwynned Mercy to
District and Bicentennial League championships. His 4 X 800 relay
team set a state standard by winning the Pennsylvania AA meet five
successive years. Wilson’s runners have also captured the 1500 meter
event at the Penn Relays. He’s been an assistant at two l
international meets, and was head USA coach at the 1981 National
Sports Festival.
Ralph
'Skag' Cottman – Norristown native and initial inductee into
the Hall of Honor. For 50 years Cottman has focused his energies on
youth athletic programs throughout central Montgomery County, coaching
boys in baseball from Tee Ball to legion age and girls in baseball,
softball, football and basketball. He has been involved in The Times
Herald Baseball School as a coach for over four decades, has also
served as an official in youth leagues for many years. He was a long-time
member of the Montgomery County All-Star Football Game's board of
directors.
Sullivan
'Heels' Gelet – He is a softball coaching legend in the Norristown
area. He has umpired, coached, managed and directed softball teams
in Montgomery County since 1954. He led J&L Towing to the ASA
of PA Class-C State Softball Championship in 1981. His 1991 Rathbone’s
team finished third in both the ASA and NSA Class-C states. Heels
Gelet doesn’t just manage softball teams, he molds friendships
that endure long after the game is over. Hundreds of games “under
the lights” are played each season at Sullivan “Heels”
Gelet Softball Park at Weirman Field in Norristown. 
Charles
‘Mr. Mac' McPherson – Mr. Mac was as a longtime St.
Patrick’s CYO and youth sports organizer. He coached St. Pat’s
for 22 years and was also the defensive backfield coach at Bishop
Kenrick for 2 years. He rose to become commissioner of Region 21
CYO and was a member if the archdiocese athletic board for 11 years.
He was one of the organizers of American Legion Baseball in this
area. He coached teams from Knee-Hi through Junior American Legion,
including Chicco Beverage and Phil Melnick's Esso in the Civic League.
His Gilbert's Clothing Store team won the city championship in 1950.
One of the baseball fields in Elmwood Park was named in his honor
after he died.
Sal Melito
– Sal has coached and managed for 38 years. His accomplishments
include compiling more than 600 victories and 11 league titles as
manager of Gus's Diner and Presidential Caterers American Legion
baseball team. He was inducted into the American Legion Sports Hall
of Fame in 1998.
Willie
Richet – Willie is a captain in the Norristown Police Department‚
He has been involved in the Police Athletic League (PAL) for more
than 30 years, starting in the basketball program, then graduated
to the position of executive director of PAL. Was cited as the Police
Officer of the Year in 1982 by the American Federation of Police.
he also was honored with the Outstanding Law Enforcement Award in
1992. He started running basketball programs with youth from Norristown
and the surrounding areas. He has also coached adult teams in the
Norristown Civic and Church Leagues for many years. 
Charles
Romanowski - He founded and coached the Souderton His Nibs
semi-pro
football team of the Big Six Conference in 1946. He was the founder
of the Souderton Midget Football program in the 60's, where he also
coached for 20 years. Romanowski went on to bring the Souderton
Warriors into the Perkiomen Valley Twilight League in the late 1940s
and managed them for more than 30 years. He has been inducted into
the American Legion Sports Hall of Fame and the Summit Chapter Sports
Hall of Fame. He also has a field in Telford named in his honor.
Nick
‘Chief' Rotundo – The Chief is synonymous with Bridgeport
working every level of youth sports in the borough for more then
50 years, also serving as Bridgeport's Director of Recreation for
20 years. He was the founding member of the Bridgeport Hall of Fame.
He was a long time Special Education teacher as well as a Scout
master, Softball Director and Sports Coordinator. He has received
numerous awards from the Distinguished Service Award of Special
Education to Community Service Awards to Educator of the Year Award
from Penn State University to the Valley Forge Optimist Club for
Park & Recreational Service to Bridgeport.
Sal
Bello – He has built an unchallenged reputation as a supporter
of sports in Bridgeport. He has served as a generous team sponsor
in addition to coaching and built a dynasty in both softball and
flag football for Triple S Sports Club in Bridgeport. His softball
coaching career spanned 25 years and included 1200 wins. He has
17 Bridgeport Softball Championships. In flag football, he has amassed
140 total victories and 14 Championships over a 20 year span.
John
'Bing' Miller – Bing Miller was the founder and driving
force behind many faceted Visitation B.V.M. CYO programs. He started
his coaching career in 1956 and has coached football, baseball,
basketball and track. He also served as Director of CYO Athletics,
Region 21 for four years.
Victor
Negron – Began his coaching career in the Plymouth Little
League Baseball over 44 years ago where he continues today as a
volunteer and umpire. He was part of the coaching staff of three
state championships for Plymouth Little League. He was also very
active in the Plymouth Junior ABA Basketball program. 
Al Cianciulli
– Al Cianciulli has been involved in the Norristown Athletic
Association (NAA) for over 45 years as a coach and player-agent. He
also has held titles as American Legion President, CYO Region 21
Commissioner and American Legion District Director. His popularity
in sports has transcended into politics as he has been involved for
the last few years and has run for Norristown Borough councilman.
Pete
Vardakas
– Vardakas was involved in Plymouth Township sports for over
40 years. he has served as a referee, coach and administrator for
the Plymouth ABA Youth Basketball Program and was president from
1985-2002. he also has been a coach and president in the Plymouth
Little League for many years while coaching baseball at Epiphany of
Our Lord School in Plymouth Meeting for 10 years.
Pat
Walsh – Pat Walsh was a former Norristown High School
standout athlete, has been a leader for girls' sports at St.
Patrick's School in Norristown for many years in basketball and
volleyball. She also coached the Little Lassie field hockey program
in Norristown.
Rod
Johnson – A graduate of Spring-Ford High School in 1975, Johnson is still
listed as one of the school’s greatest three-sport athletes. He made
his mark in baseball, becoming a Hall of Famer at Temple University
and playing for in the Cincinatti Reds farm system, where he was
named Minor League Rookie of the Year in 1979 and advanced to the
Triple A level.
He immediately became involved in coaching youth sports, first as
the manager of the Spring City Red Sox team from 1983 to 1992.
During that span he won five league titles. He then went on to coach
the Paoli American Legion squad, inheriting a team that went 1-21
the previous year and quickly building it into a powerhouse. His
success at the American Legion level brought him notoriety
throughout the region and in 2002 he was named assistant baseball
coach at Villanova University, a post he still holds today.
Earl
Mercadante – In the many years of storied history of Plymouth Township Little
League, there have been a number of giants who helped create the
legacy. Earle Mercadante is another example of consistent
excellence. He
gave more than 35 years of uninterrupted service for Plymouth Little
League as president, vice president, manager, umpire and chairman on
the Executive Board. During that tenure, Plymouth Little League
developed a reputation as one of the shining examples of a
community-run youth sports organization in the state. He
has authored a number of handbooks for Little League managers.
Frank
"Doc" Bishop –
A heralded athlete at Norristown High, Frank Bishop went on to
become a star baseball player at Temple University. Although he went
on to dental school after his undergraduate days and established a
successful dental practice in East Norriton Township, Bishop never
lost his thirst for the game of baseball. He
took over the East Norriton Junior Legion program and his been its
coach for more than 30 years. He has had a number of successes over
the years but his greatest accolades come from the help he is always
willing to give young baseball players of any age or from any area.
Tony
"Chic" Chiccino –
It has been more than 20 years since the unexpected death of Tony Chiccino at age 51, yet there is still an absolute reverence
whenever his name is mentioned in the Bridgeport area.
Chiccino first got noticed as a star athlete at Bridgeport High –
such a star that the legendary Coach Bear Bryant, then at Kentucky,
found his way to the tiny school and recruited the bruising
fullback. After college and a stint in the military, Chiccino
returned to Bridgeport, where he began a career of service to the
community.
Although a noted football coach at Bridgeport, Upper Merion and
Phoenixville High (the school’s greatest team, 12-0 in 1978), it was
in the community where he really shined. He started Bridgeport’s
famous Alabama Booster Club, pledging allegiance to Bear Bryant. He
even got the coach to speak at the Holy Name breakfast in 1978. Each
summer he ran the community rec programs during the day and the
Bridgeport Softball League at night. He served as president from
1960 to 1985. Today,
his legacy lives on in Bridgeport, as thousands of athletes play on
the Anthony J. Chiccino Memorial Fields.
Anthony
Cianciulli –
along with his close friend Al Bertucci, brought Perkiomen Valley Twilight
League baseball back to Norristown after a long layoff. In 1980 they founded the
Norristown A’s. For 28 years from 1980 to 2007 Cianciulli was the owner of the
A’s and saw the franchise become one of the perennial powerhouses in Perkiomen
Valley Twilight League history. During the 28 years the A’s made it
to the final’s an amazing 19 times and won 12 titles. He also served as a Norristown councilman for nearly 10 years
and it was during that time that he oversaw the improvements to old Latshaw
Field in Norristown, adding lights, improving the overall facility and turning
it into the Red McCarthy Complex at Latshaw Field, a facility that is used by
many and leagues from the area. He also oversaw the fundraising for the
improvements, including a cablethon, that kept the burden of finances from
falling on taxpayers.
Albert
Bertucci –
Al Bertucci sadly passed away in March of 2004, but he left behind a unbelievable
legacy of winning. Bertucci was founder, owner and general manager of one of the
great softball powerhouses ever to grace Montgomery County. From 1965 to 1989 Bertucci owned the Al’s
Cold Cut softball team that won an impressive 13 Norristown Civic League titles,
eight Conshohocken Softball League titles and seven Bridgeport slow pitch
titles. Throughout the years in league and playoffs the team had a remarkable 84
percent winning percentage. Al’s Cold Cuts also won the Pennsylvania Class A
state championship in both 1984 and 1986. Despite his almost nightly involvement with softball and
baseball, Bertucci found time to serve on Norristown Borough Council from 1980
to 1984 and was a very active member of Plymouth Country Club.
Frank
Zoltowski –
a true son of Conshohocken, has served the community on two different levels. In
1965 he signed on as the assistant coach for the Saint Matthews varsity boys CYO
basketball team. Halfway through the year he assumed the head coach role and
held it, along with athletic director duties, for the next 30 years. During that
tenure he won seven division titles and three region titles with the boys, while
often helping coach girls’ teams. Even since his semi-retirement in 1995, he has
stayed active with the CYO program. Zoltowski also managed teams in the
Conshohocken Babe Ruth baseball League, as well as volunteering as a coach and
scorekeeper in the Sutcliff Park summer basketball league. But his
greatest love has been the Fellowship House, where he has been employed for 40
years. Zoltowski never recognized the time clock, spending countless hours
helping with kickball, basketball, volleyball and – his greatest love – the
Albert C. Donofrio high school basketball tournament.
Joe Brown - Joe
Brown's coaching career in football and basketball at the old St. Pat's and
Bishop Kenrick appears pedestrian at first glance, his behind-the-scenes
work in shaping young lives was extraordinary. A 1928 graduate of Norristown
High, where he played football, basketball and baseball, Brown ran Joe
Brown's Bar on Swede Street in Norristown. The thriving business enabled him
to devote much of his free time to his coaching pursuits, His coaching
career, which spanned from 1943 to 1955 at St. Pat's and 1956-64 at Kenrick
was always hamstrung by the lack of resources at his disposal. To his credit
he still amassed a 152-71 record as Kenrick's basketball coach, even taking
them to the 1960 PCIAA Class-A state title game. He also won 127 basketball
games at St. Pat's and an additional 30 plus football games as their coach.
Jim
Randolph – He is one of the truly beloved gentleman of sports in
Montgomery County. He was a star athlete and native of Norristown.
Randolph excelled in football and baseball at Shaw University in
North Carolina. He returned to his roots after playing in the
Baltimore Orioles minor league organization and with the U.S. Navy
Special Services team.
He
then began a distinguished career as a teacher, coach and
administrator at Montgomery County Community College (Montco). It
was at Montco that Randolph took a fledging baseball program and
built it into a powerhouse. His teams won a total of 206 games and
in 1980 and 1981, he led the Mustangs to back-to-back Pennsylvania
Community College championships. He then spent a few years coaching
golf at Montco. He then moved from the playing fields to an office
and became the Director of Athletics at Montco. Aside
from his duties on campus, Randolph always found time to assist with
community activities and area fundraisers. His work with the Times
Herald Baseball School, Lions club, Big Brothers and Big Sisters
Association and the Senior Activities Center throughout the area are
among his many civic endeavors.
Tom
Lasorda - Popular Norristown native and distinguished member of
baseball’s National Hall of Fame, Tommy Lasorda,
was installed in the Coaches Hall’s initial class in November, 2002 at Westover
Country Club. Lasorda will return to our county to receive another special salute. From
time to time, but not necessarily annually, the Coaches Hall of Fame presents
its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. In this Olympic year, with his
baseball team’s stunning gold medal victory over Cuba in 2002 still burning as
one of the greatest Olympic triumphs, Tom Lasorda has been selected as the 2008
recipient. Lasorda’s managerial achievements with the Los Angeles Dodgers are
well-known. But capping his remarkable
achievements that propelled him toward Cooperstown was the exceptional feat
which was frequently recalled and documented during this recent 2008 Summer
Olympic festival. Montgomery County’s Lasorda had already been enshrined in
baseball’s Hall of Fame when he coached the United States Baseball Team to the
2002 Olympics Baseball championship. Culminating the team’s march to the Gold
was the exciting upset over heavily favored Cuba in the finale.