March 29, 2007 10:50 pm
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My recent column on the late Farrell basketball coach Ed McCluskey has prompted many responses, far too many to publish in the print edition. I’ll be adding new comments as I get them here on line. If you have a memory to share about The Coach, send me e-mail at jraykie@sharonherald.com
Raymond Purich, Farrell
I am a 1971 Farrell graduate. I have very much enjoyed the stories about Coach McCluskey. I never had the good fortune to play basketball for Mr. McCluskey, but I would like to share some memories that I have of him.
Mr. McCluskey was not only a storied basketball coach, but he was a wonderful teacher. I was a student in his American History class. I can still see him red-faced, leaning back in his chair, his black eyeglasses in hand, teaching history to our class as if he were having a personal conversation with each and every one of us. He never once looked at or opened his text book. He made history as interesting as history can be. This was due to his ability to teach it in a manner that went far beyond just proclaiming dates and events.
I was a good friend of Coach’s son Edward (EJ). I had the opportunity to spend time with him and his family. We would shoot pool in the basement family room. The walls were adorned with pictures, plaques, and awards which reflected Coach’s many accomplishments. During my visits Coach McCluskey always seemed to be on the phone. His desk was filled stacks of mails, newspapers, and periodicals. He always seemed to be dressed in a coaching shirt, grey slacks, and those white high top Chuck Taylor All-Star tennis shoes. It seemed as if he was ready to hit the hardwood at a moments notice. He and his wife were wonderful to me. They made me feel comfortable in their home; and I did. I have to tell you that I was in awe of that man. Coach always called me by my last name. He would tell me a one liner or a joke, which I’m sure his players heard at one time or another. He seemed to be very humble and relaxed at home. This was evident to me after he won the 1972 State Championship. I can still see him sitting on the edge of the bed in his hotel suite, accepting congratulations from family, friends, and well wishers. You would never know by looking at him that he had just won the biggest game in the State. He was obviously happy, but at the same time very relaxed and composed.
Finally, a few years later Farrell and Sharon were meeting for the final time at Sharon. Heck, it was Farrell and Sharon, and a big Section. – 3 match-up. The game was a sell out. I called A.D. Joe Duich for tickets and he told me none could be had. I took a chance and called Mr. McCluskey at home to perhaps see if he had an extra complementary ticket. I told him no tickets were available and I desperately wanted to attend the game. He said, “Purich here’s what I want you to do. Be at the school at 5:15pm on game day, follow the team bus to Sharon, and walk in and sit with the players.” I hopped into my 1967 VW Bug and did as he told me. The Sharon gym was packed way before the varsity game. Thanks to coach I got to see a wonderful Farrell Sharon game in a ring side seat. These are my personal memories of Coach Edward McCluskey. There are memories which I hold near and dear to my heart and will cherish forever.
Cornelius P. ‘Doc’ Adams, San Antonio, Texas
Every time I watch a basketball game -- high school, especially, but also college and pro (which I seldom watch, unless it's the Spurs in the playoffs) -- I think of Coach Mac, and how he created magic on the court. Watching his teams play was like watching a finely choreographed ballet!
The way basketball is played nowadays it's less than organized confusion -- people running around and shooting. And no defense! Mac's teams would kill those runaway teams with his patented weave and famous pass-and-cut plays -- performed with patience and precision -- and great defense. No doubt, Mac was the best!
Too bad others around the country didn't have the honor and pleasure to see him and his teams perform. And too bad, also, the country didn't have a chance to see his strict discipline in action. How many of the best basketball players at Farrell High found themselves sitting in the stands, instead of playing on the court, because they refused to go along with Mac's rules and regulations?
In covering the Steelers those years in the early 1960s for The Herald, I got to love and respect Mac as a great basketball coach. I guess God broke the mold for basketball coaches after Mac was born …
Marc Knezevich, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Some of my memories are a little hazy (while others are crystal clear) and I think it was Lou Carnesecca from St. John's that was friends with Mac and used to come to our practice. Does that sound familiar to you? I even remember when the whole team had to go to Mac's house on New Year's Eve and him and Coach Carnesecca took us all out to a midnight show up at the mall. This of course was to insure that we weren't out partying....
John A. Pustinger, Jacksonville, Fla.
I read your article about Ray Szelest and the credit he gave to Coach McCluskey. I was one of three juniors on that team at Kennedy and a few memories of Coach McCluskey still stand as vivid as the days I played for him.
I remember that his passion for basketball and being part of the team was very deep. You didn't miss practice unless your parents had died or you were on your deathbed. I had to miss being in my oldest brother's wedding because we had practice.
I didn't understand then, but I do now. The honor of being on the team demanded that all members gave 150% all the time. If you could not be there then you didn't want to be part of the team. Needless to say I missed the wedding but made it to practice.
I guess working hard and dedicating everything you have to the team falls right in line with the above memory. Szelest is absolutely correct in saying that he learned his coaching style from Coach McCluskey.
He didn't just teach us basketball he gave us a skill set we could use our entire lives. I work hard every day. I credit my work ethic to Coach. You see he made me guard the quickest point guard in the league every day in practice. His ability to motivate his players to give 150% every day pushed me to be not only a better player but a better person.
I'm am now teaching at a Oceanway Middle School in Jacksonville, Fla. I use the skills I learned from coach in my every day routine and now as baseball season starts up, I coach the pitchers and outfielders and Coach's work ethics are being shared with my players.
Dr. Bob Bernard, Mechanicsburg, Pa.
I've been reading the articles online regarding Coach McCluskey. If I remember correctly Farrell always played up in class. Early on Farrell played in Class A when their enrollment was either B or C. This was before the current classifications where they stayed in Quad A for years before they went to class AA.
I think playing up in the 50s made his feats more impressive. Those 10 years were a great time to be growing up and living in Farrell. I've been here in Mechanicsburg, Pa for almost 40 years but still follow the Steelers (my wife and I are '59 graduates).
I have many fond memories and still get questions and comments from people here, especially Steelton folks, who remember the "glory" days of Farrell. Thanks for reviving the legacy. He was a coach ahead of his time.
To stay involved in basketball and the high school scene I've been the scorekeeper for a local school for 23 consecutive years. It's still exciting.
Joe Ellovich
I grew up in Sharon, but have been away since graduating from SHS in 1947.
About 34 years ago while in New York City, I attended the Broadway play "That Championship Season" written by Jason Miller (son-in-law of Jackie Gleason).
The play got rave reviews and lasted on Broadway for almost 1,000 performances. Before the curtain went up while reading the Playbill, I was surprised and pleased to notice that the playwright gave credit to Ed McCluskey for technical advice.
Perhaps you already knew this before but I am passing it along in case it's news.
Rhonda Ladner, Sharon
Thank you so much for the editorial on Coach McCluskey. I did not grow up here and I never knew him, but he was a good friend of my high school coach, Charlie Huggins. I grew up loving the sport, mostly because of Charlie.
When I finally went to my first Kennedy game (under Coach Votino's guidance), I was amazed that they were playing ball the same way that my alma mater had played. Watching Kennedy play made winter more enjoyable for me and eased me into life in the Valley. I do believe that Coach McCluskey was a mentor for Coach Votino.
So my reasons are different but you helped me bring back some very good memories from my youth - thank you!
Frank Petrini, Pittsburgh, Pa.
I also had the experience of playing for Coach McCluskey while at Kennedy Christian High School. I was one of the younger players on the team at that time and the memories I have are of some pretty funny one liners that coach McCluskey used to pepper us with as part of his "motivational speech."
"You aren't worth the powder to blow you up!" was one and "You'd screw up a one car funeral!" was another one. Though that looks pretty mean spirited when I type it out, in my view the words were full of intensity and absent of malice. He knew how to motivate, to make you want what he saw that you were capable of doing.
Coach McCluskey seemed to me to be always in a hurry, which was odd for an old man. He was constantly rolling that piece of confounded paper, referring to it, placing it in a shirt pocket or his pants pocket, then looking at it again as if he needed a script.
He had an uncanny ability to see where everyone was on the floor and who was fouling up the works. As I said, when I knew him he was an old man, I didn't know how he could see at all, but he did, and he knew exactly what was going on and what to say when to make you want to improve.
My job on that team was basically to get the crap beat out of me, bouncing between Ray and John in the low post position. I was the shortest center in history, I was slow and I couldn't jump, looking back I think all that I had to offer that team was heart. They called me "bruiser" but I was more accurately "bruisee".
We worked very hard every day to prepare the varsity squad for the upcoming games. I remember feeling that if we worked hard and stuck together, our day would come. What we all really wanted to become was a player, which was a term that Coach used to indicate a level of proficiency. We could take the floor against anybody and play the game.
Coach McCluskey came back to practice a few years later during my senior year to visit. We all wanted to show off for him, to show him how we had improved. The stars were in the right patterns and I had one of those days. I got every rebound, I made every shot, I dove and got every loose ball, I was playing like a man possessed..
After practice we were headed to the showers, I was just about floating off the floor. Coach McCluskey pulled me aside, me, this was like Jesus stopping by to say hello, this was my moment in the sun.
Coach: "Petrini?" (it had been a few years),
Petrini: "Yes Coach"
Coach: "You were hustling pretty good out there today"
Petrini: "Thank you, we're all working hard"
Coach: "If you keep working on your skills, in about 12 years, you'll be a player"
Still working on it Coach! Thank you to Jim for scaring up those memories.
Ray Szelest, Tarpon Springs, FL
A Florida transplant (Tarpon Springs) for the last 7.5 years. My wife, Gina (Fetsko) Hank’s youngest daughter. Two kids (Nicole, 12 and Matthew, 10) read the online version on The Herald pretty much every day.
Even though Florida is currently our home, the Shenango Valley is our true home. Yes, it might be a much slower lifestyle, is a depressed area, and has only one major shopping venue – Wal-Mart, but it is still home. There is something to be said about that.
I have always wanted to e-mail replies back on certain stories that I have read but never did. So now I am. I missed your main story on Mac but have been reading the replies and wanted to add my own comments.
I lived within the influence of Coach McCluskey by growing up on the 300 block of Beachwood in Farrell - everything that the various Farrell teams accomplished and then actually playing for “Mac” at Kennedy in 1982. Those were magical times.
Mac was not only a legend, but for me personally, a great motivator. Mac was very hard on me when I played for him but looking back, I need to thank him. By demanding perfection, he molded me into what I have become. My parents guided and molded me too, but that one year playing for Mac really transformed me
In my business life and now my post athletic life coaching my children, Mac comes out in me every day. Time management, 100% effort and complete focus are qualities that I learned from Mac and practice every day.
Thanks Coach! I too remember Mac carrying around a piece of paper in his hand that was all rolled up. On that paper was his script for practice. Every drill with exact times and durations for each, and a young coach, Joe Votino, at his side waiting for Mac’s instruction to blow the whistle to move onto a new drill.
I always wondered why was Mac riding me so hard. He pushed me like no one else on the team. At the time I didn’t understand it, but within a few years later, it became very clear to me. He saw something in me and was extracting it.
I remember Mac talking to me later in the season, a moment that he wasn’t yelling at me, he said, “You know Szelest, you’re going to be a good coach someday.” I didn’t know what he meant at the time but now I do!
I own with a partner a seven-team girl’s fast-pitch softball travel ball organization as well as coaching my 12-year-old daughter’s team (we play year-round in Florida) and I get questions all the time from parents and other teams. Wow, your organization is very organized? Your practices are so structured and focused? You are intense but get your points across to the girls? Where do you get this from? Your style is not from around here? Every time that question is asked, I give them the same answer.
I learned these lessons from my hometown of Farrell. Born and raised there, blue collar, hard-working people and very proud of the place. I never forget my roots, but I owe my style to one man, Eddie McCluskey, the greatest high school basketball coach that ever was. Then I tell them the story of Mac and who he was.
I have had parents come back to me after they have “googled” Mac and have said, “Man you were so lucky to have been around someone like that.” My reply every time is “Yes I was!” Thanks Coach. You have inspired and have touched many people.
Bruce D Helmbrecht
Greetings from southern Maryland. I am the son of the late William L. Helmbrect and of Grace O. Helmbrecht, formerly of Sharon. Mom lives in Hubbard, Ohio.
I coach in the Parks and Recreations Department of St. Mary's County. I am attaching an article about my receiving Coach of the Year honors. My father also took me to the games from the time I was four years old. I also want to add that the dark blue suit, red tie and white shirt shall not die. Thanks Eddie for your inspiration.
Gene Kovack
I remember a time when I was an usher at the Columbia Theatre in Sharon and Coach McCluskey found one of his players at a midnight movie, apparently in violation of his rules. It was state tournament time, and that player did not play, and Farrell lost. But it sure sent a message. I know the name of the player, but I'll just keep that to myself.
David B. Douds
As a member of the 1964-1967 Hickory Hornets basketball team, Coach McGlumphy would schedule a few scrimmages with Coach McCluskey - always at FHS. It was interesting to watch Coach McCluskey in action.
Coach McCluskey was getting on in years, but he had a commanding presence. He would sometimes stand in the middle of the court and watch action around him, stopping play when he wanted to make a point. When he did stop play and spoke, the entire gym went silent. He manner was direct and on point; but in a respectful manner.
Sam Iacino and I usually guarded each other when it was time to go man-to-man defense and Coach McCluskey was always pushing Sam to play his best. The respect for Coach McCluskey was papable to all who were in this presence.
To have been in Coach McCluskey's presence during those scrimmages will always be one of my fond memories of my high school basketball days.
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