2018 Hall of Fame Inductees

Coach Joe Mucci

Joseph G. Mucci, Jayhawk head football coach from 1968-1985, the winningest Football coach in Jayhawk history with an overall record of 150-33-3. In his 18 seasons as Head Football coach, Mucci led the team to 11 conference titles, 3 undefeated seasons each earning him a WPIAL Championships (1971, 1981, 1983). Coach Mucci also worked at Jeannette from 1968-1997 as the athletic director. Mucci’s accomplishments earned him Coach of the Year honors twice, first in 1977 and then again in 1982. The Jeannette Jaycees honored Coach in 1986 as Man of the Year following his retirement Head Jayhawk Football coach. Coach Mucci has been recognized by multiple organizations for his accomplishments such as the American Legion Service Award, David H. Weiss Recognition Award, three-time Dapper Can Club of Pittsburgh Honoree, Letter of Distinction Award from Saint Vincent College, his alma mater, and Outstanding Young Man in America Honoree. He was also named Distinguished Coach of the Year by the PA Sports Hall of Fame. 

Prior to his induction into the Jeannette Senior High School Hall of Fame, Coach Mucci has been inducted into the Western PA Chapter of the Sports Hall of Fame (1993), 1997 PA Scholastic Football Coaches Hall of Fame (first Westmoreland County coach to be inducted), and the WPIAL Hall of Fame (2016). 

Throughout his coaching tenure Coach Mucci worked with and promoted students furthered their education and careers many top Football programs as well as numerous Division II and III institutions.

 

 

 

 

Dick Hoak a 1957 graduate and member of the 1956 Championship team, was a three-sport athlete at Jeannette participating in football, basketball, and track where he was a 3 year letterman in each. He was named All State and All WPIAL for his performance as a varsity football player. Dick was also a standout basketball player leading the team in scoring his senior year and setting the single game scoring record of 39 points, before the 3-point line was in effect! He was again named to the Basketball All WPIAL and All Section Teams. 

After High School, Dick attended Penn State where he played halfback and safety his freshman and sophomore years. In his senior year, he played quarterback and safety, for which he was voted team MVP by the Penn State Quarter Back Club and Penn State players. In 1960, Dick and his Nittany Lions played Oregon in the Liberty Bowl, where he was named MVP. Dick passed for 2 touchdowns, ran for 2 touchdowns and had 2 interceptions in that game. 

In 1961, Dick was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers where he spent 45 years, 10 as a player and 35 as a coach. 1968, proved to be a great year for Mr. Hoak, who received the Dapper Dan Award, Man of the Year by Jaycees, was selected to the Pro-Bowl, and had the longest run in NFL history for a touchdown (78 yards). Over his 35 years as a Steeler’s coach, Dick won 5 Super Bowls and numerous AFC Championships. He was voted in to the first class of Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor in November 2018. Dick is a member of numerous other Hall of Fames; Inaugural WPIAL Class, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County, Western Chapter or Pennsylvania, National Italian American, Jeannette’s Man of the Year, Pittsburgh’s Dapper Dan Man of the Year, and now the Jeannette Jayhawks Hall of Fame.

Steve August Graduating Class of 1972

 

Steve August, graduate of 1972 and a member of the 1971 WPIAL Championship football team during their undefeated season. Despite only playing one year as tackle on both offense and defense, he attracted the attention of many Division 1 colleges. Steve settled on the University of Tulsa where he was a three-year starter as the offensive tackle and guard. He was named 1st Team All Missouri Valley Conference player and 3rd Team All American with the Associated Press. Steve also represented University of Tulsa at the East-West Shrine and Senior Bowl games.

Steve was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1st round of the NFL draft in 1977 as the 14th pick overall. He spent 8 seasons with the Seahawks (1978-1984) where he earned the record of most starts as a Right Tackle in Seahawks team history. In 1983, Steve and the Seahawks made the playoffs where they defeated Denver and Miami but ultimately fell in the AFC Championship to the top seed LA Raiders. In 1984, Steve was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers Team which also reached the playoffs winning their first game and losing the AFC Championship. Steve spent his final year with the NFL, playing for the NY Jets. Over his NFL career, he played in over 100 games and started in over 90 of those.

Sid Bostick, a 1974 graduate and outstanding two sport athlete for the Jeannette Jayhawks, lettered in both Football and Basketball. Bostick however excelled as a Basketball player leading the Jayhawk basketball team to 3 section AA Championships, 1972, 1973, and 1974. He was named to the Section AA First Team All-Star team his junior and senior years as well as  appearing in the AP All-State first team squad his senior year. He played in the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic, the first player in Jeannette history to do so, and led his team and the section in scoring and rebounding as he notched 21 points per game and hauled down 17 rebounds per game. 

Sid’s abilities on the court earned him a four year basketball scholarship to West Virginia University, where he was a four year letterman and 2 year starter for the Mountaineers. While at WVU, made the 1976 Basketball Hall of Fame All-Tournament Team and was named MVP for scoring 38 points and bringing own 16 rebounds against Syracuse and UMass, leading his team to the tournament title.

 

Dante Wiley, class of 1984, was a standout football player at both the quarterback and linebacker positions. Dante was a member of the 1981 WPIAL Championship football team and was captain of the 1983 WPIAL Championship team. His abilities earned him All American Status in Parade, Bally’s and USA Today. He was also named All State Football player his senior player. Dante was heavily recruited by a number of Division 1 schools, he remained local his Freshman year enrolling at the University of Pittsburgh. After one season, Dante transferred to Nebraska, where he played linebacker. 

Dante was also an outstanding track and field athlete setting the 1993 PA State Javelin Record with a throw of 194-1.

Lisa Marquis Abreu, a 1987 graduate, a four year starter she led the girls’ basketball team in both scoring and rebounding her Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years, averaging 13 rebounds and 19 points per game in her senior season. Lisa was voted the team’s Most Valuable Player during her sophomore, junior, and senior years, earning her the honor of Captain her junior and senior years. 

Lisa earned a number of accomplishments throughout her career, as a sophomore, Junior and Senior she was named to the All-District, All-Section, and WPIAL All-Star Teams. In her junior year, Lisa led her team to win the Section 9 Championship. Lisa’s Senior year boosted the most acknowledgements where she was also named one of Pittsburgh Post Gazette’s Fabulous Five, became a thousand point scorer (1,022), and received the Judge Charles E. Marker Scholar Athlete Award.

Lisa was the first female from Jeannette School District to be awarded a full scholarship for athletics. Lisa continued her playing career at St. Bonaventure University where she started 15 of 21 games as a freshman and was a 3 year starter. During her freshman year, she led the team in rebounding and was the second leading scorer. 

The week of February 23, 1988, Lisa scored 36 points and grabbed 25 rebounds in three games versus UMass, URI, and Rutgers earning her the Atlantic 10’s Freshman of the Week. Lisa scored over 700 points and pulled down 520 rebounds in her career as a Bonnie.

Lori Pecoraro, a graduate of Jeannette in 1990, a prestigious track and field athlete and Cheerleading Captain broke numerous school, county, and WPIAL records during her career. Lori competed in the 1986 U.S. National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships in Lincoln, Nebraska where she placed 1st in both the 100m and 200m Hurdles. At the 1988 U.S. Region II Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships, she again placed 1st in 100m and 200m hurdles. 

As a high school track and field athlete, Lori placed first at the Westmoreland County Coaches Association Meet in both 1989 and 1990 in the 100m hurdles, setting a new county record in 1990. Her WPIAL accomplishments include placing 1st in the 1989 and 1990 100m hurdles, setting a new WPIAL record during her senior year. 

Lori qualified for the 100m hurdlers three years in a row from 1988-1990 for the State Championships held at Shippensburg University. In 1988, she placed 3rd, 1989 she placed 7th, and during her senior year she placed 5th.

 

Matt Lebe Graduating Class of 2001

Matt Lebe, a 2001 graduate, was a standout wrestler with a remarkable college and high school career, highlighted by a state championship at Jeannette high school and NCAA All-American honors at West Virginia University. During his high school years, Matt was the PIAA state champion his Senior year as well as 3rd in the PIAA as a sophomore and 2nd as a Junior.  He was a three time WPIAL and regional champion, holding a record of 132-10. Due to his success, he was ranked the number 4 recruit in the nation in the 160lb weight class. As well as wrestling, Matt was a member of the football team, earning All-Conference recognition three times and captain during his senior season.

 

Matt attended West Virginia University on a wrestling scholarship, where he is ranked second all-time in WVU program history with 120 career wins and only 33 loses. As one of only 9 wrestlers in WVU history to participate in four NCAA tournaments, Matt is tied  for 3rd in school history with 11 NCAA tournament victories. Named as captain 3 years by his teammates, Matt was selected as WVU and Eastern Wrestling Wrester of the Week multiple times throughout his career. In 2005, he earned the NCAA All-American status by finishing 7th in the country at the NCAA championships. His senior season, he found himself ranked as high as number 2 nationally.

Matt also earned multiple honors for his academic work receiving recognition by the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. He was also a four-time Eastern Wrestling League all-academic selection and was the first West Virginia wrestler to become a three time National Wrestling Coaches Association all-academic team member.

Terrelle Pryor, a 2007 graduate, was an elite multi-sport athlete at Jeannette Senior High School. As a freshman Terrelle was a member of the Section Champion Basketball team which advanced to the WPIAL Semifinals and PIAA Quarterfinals. He was also one of the top 200 meter dash runners in WPIAL. Again in his sophomore year, he led the football and basketball teams to playoff appearances, with the basketball team advancing to the WPIAL quarterfinals and PIAA second round. 

As a junior, Terrelle’s abilities and leadership were acknowledged by both the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Greensburg Tribune Review, being named Player of the Year in both Basketball and Football. In this same year, Pryor was named Pennsylvania’s Football Player of the Year for leading the Jayhawk football team to a WPIAL title and Second place in the state. In basketball, Terrelle helped lead the team to a section championship. In his senior year, Terrelle was named Football Player of the Year by USA Today, Parade All American Player of the Year, and Pennsylvania Player of the Year. 

Terrelle attended Ohio State University where he played quarterback for three seasons, ending with a career record of 31-4. At the end of this college career Pryor had thrown for 6,177 career passing yards and run for 2,164 career rushing yards. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2008 and MVP of both the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowls for his performance as the Buckeye’s starting Quarterback. 

In 2011, Pryor was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the supplemental draft. As quarterback for the Raiders, Terrelle rushed for a 93 yard touchdown, making it the longest run from scrimmage by a quarterback in both Raiders and NFL history. In 2016, as a wide receiver with the Cleveland Browns, Terrelle pulled in 77 receptions totaling 1007 yards.

 

Jeannette	30	Crafton	0
Jeannette	25	Schenley	0
Jeannette	13	Turtle Creek	0
Jeannette	12	Connellsville	0
Jeannette	21	Latrobe	7
Jeannette	W	North Huntingdon	L
Jeannette	21	Munhall	0
Jeannette	19	Wilkinsburg	0
Jeannette	14	Greensburg	6
Jeannette	16	Charleroi	13

Claire Cribbs

Class of 1930

 

Claire Linton Cribbs was an American basketball player and high school coach. He was a two-time All-American at the University of Pittsburgh and won over 400 games as a high school coach in the state of Ohio.

Cribbs led the Panthers to a 53–15 record in his three varsity seasons, winning the Eastern Intercollegiate Conference in 1933 and 1934 and tying for the championship with West Virginia in 1935. Cribbs was the star of these teams, garnering all-conference honors all three years and consensus All-American honors as a junior and senior.

Claire Cribbs is enshrined in the University of Pittsburgh Hall of Fame, as well as the Ohio basketball coaches, Dapper Dan, and Westmoreland County (PA) halls of fame.

James Buster Clarkson

Class of 1933

Buster Clarkson began his professional career in the Negro leagues where he played shortstop for the 1937 Pittsburgh Crawfords. He also briefly played in 1940 for the Newark Eagles before signing with the Mexican League, where he played in 1940–41 and 1946–47. In 1942 he returned to the Negro leagues, playing for the Philadelphia Stars and hitting .360. He spent 1943–45 in the military service. He played part of the 1946 season with Philadelphia and returned to play with them again in 1949-50. In 1948, he played in the independent Canadian Provincial League.

In 1950 at age 35, Clarkson entered the minor leagues with the Milwaukee Brewers. He played third base and shortstop, hitting .302 in 1950 and .343 in 1951. In 1952, Clarkson at age 37 had his only opportunity to play in the major leagues when he played fourteen games for the Boston Braves. He managed to connect five hits in 25 at-bats, with one RBI.

He spent the rest of 1952 in Milwaukee, hitting .318. In 1953–54, he played with Dallas in the Texas League, hitting .330 and .324. In 1954 he led the league with 42 home runs. In 1955 he played with the Los Angeles Angels in the Pacific Coast League and hit .294. The next year was his final season in the minors, as he played with Los Angeles, Tulsa in the Texas League, and Des Moines in the Western League.         

William (Bill) Baughman

Class of 1940

Baughman had a long and distinguished career as a football player and coach, dating back to high school where he captained the 1939 Jeannette Jayhawks WPIAL Class A championship team. That season he earned All WPIAL and All State honors at the center position.

After graduation he attended the University of Alabama, where he played for the Crimson Tide in the Cotton and Orange Bowls. His 1941 Alabama team won a national championship. In 1943, Alabama dropped football because of World War II, and Baughman transferred to the University of Iowa. At Iowa, he was named All-America Honorable Mention and set the NCAA record for the most minutes played during a season. He played center on offense and linebacker on defense for the Hawkeyes, earning the nickname "Alabama Iron Man." Following the 1943 season he played in the East-West Shrine game and then entered the Navy. 

 Although he received offers from 10 professional football teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams, Baughman chose to return to Jeannette as an assistant football coach under Markley Barnes. In 1961, he became head coach of the Jayhawks and led them to the Foothills Conference and Westmoreland County championships in 1963. During his long and distinguished tenure in athletics, he also served as Jeannette's athletic director, head track coach and head wrestling coach. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. 

Louis Seiler

Class of 1947

Louis Seiler, a 1947 graduate was a devoted Jayhawk who touched the lives of generations of Jeannette athletes. During his high school years, Lou spent 4 years on the basketball team and was also a member of the Jayhawk marching band. 

Lou began his time with Jeannette Basketball in 1957, as the equipment manager, locker room attendant, and trainer for the boys’ basketball team. “Sweet Lou” as the players referred to him, spent 47 years working with the athletes, during his time he assisted 7 head coaches and countless all-star athletes. Lou also served the community he loved so dearly by establishing, developing, and coaching future Jayhawks in the Jeannette Midget program, and Jeannette Baseball Association, and the Knee-High Organization, which he co-founded. In 1986, the Jeannette Recreation Commission proclaimed December 9th to be “Lou Seiler Day” in Jeannette to honor all his years of service to our community and youth. 

Mike Getto

Class of 1948

Michael J. Getto was a professional football coach in the National Football League for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1942. That season, he coached Brooklyn to a 3–8 record. Prior to his coaching career, Getto played college football while attending the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned All-American honors in 1928. After graduating from Pitt, Getto remained with the school as a football coach for the freshman team. He then worked as an assistant football coach from 1929 to 1939 and again in 1947 to 1950 at the University of Kansas. While at Kansas, Getto inspired his hometown of Jeannette, Pennsylvania to adopt the Jayhawk mascot for their high school athletic teams.

Jack O’Brien

Class of 1950

Jack Edward O'Brien attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Bob Woodruff's Florida Gators football team from 1951 to 1953. 

In an era when college football rules allowed only limited player substitutions, he played both offensive end and defensive end, and was rated as one of the Gators' five best ends of the 1950s by Coach Woodruff. O'Brien was a junior starter for the 1952 Gators team that posted an 8–3 record and defeated the Tulsa Golden Hurricane 14–13 in the 1953 New Year's Day Gator Bowl—the first NCAA-sanctioned post-season bowl game in Gators history. He was a senior team captain in 1953, Coach Woodruff later ranked O'Brien as one of the Gators' five best receivers of the 1950s

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected O'Brien in the seventh round (seventy-ninth pick overall) of the 1954 NFL Draft, and he played in thirty-one games for the Steelers during three seasons from 1954 to 1956. O'Brien made the most of his few catches—he had sixteen receptions for 185 yards (an average of 11.6 yards per catch) and two touchdowns.