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Coach Render Announces Retirement After 40 Years at USC and 400+ Wins
The winningest football coach in Pittsburgh Steelers this past September. During the two-minute WPIAL history is retiring after nearly five warning of the first half, he was presented a framed Steelers jersey, decades of coaching high school football. boldly displaying his last name and the number “400.” And on Coach Jim Render submitted his letter of December 18, Coach Render was nominated by the Pittsburgh resignation and officially announced his Steelers for the 2018 Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Coach Jim Render retirement as head coach of the Upper St. Year award, which honors high school football coaches who disClair varsity football team at the beginning of this year. play the integrity, achievement, and leadership exemplified by In total, Coach Render has coached 49 seasons: two in Don Shula, the winningest coach in NFL history. Coach Render, Carrollton, Ohio, seven at Uniontown High School, and the last along with the other 31 nominees, was invited to the 2019 Pro 40 at Upper St. Clair. He is the first and only WPIAL coach to Bowl in Orlando this January, where they watched the game and reach 400 wins—a feat achieved only by 29 high school football interacted with coaches and experts from around the country. coaches in the nation. Coach Render was inducted into the Pennsylvania Scholastic “I have had the privilege of serving as head coach for the Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Western Upper St. Clair football program for 40 years,” said Coach Render. Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. In addition, he was “During that time, the District’s football program has achieved recognized with the Lou Holtz Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame great success, and many young men have gone on to have out- Lifetime Achievement award in 2013. standing collegiate football careers as well Beyond his role as football coach, as remarkable successes in their chosen Coach Render has deep roots within professions.” the Upper St. Clair community. A forUnder his leadership, the Panthers mer high school physical education reached the WPIAL playoffs 38 times, teacher, he and his wife, Pam, both earning 23 conference titles, five WPIAL retired following long careers within championship titles, and two PIAA chamthe Upper St. Clair School District, pionships. where they reared their two sons, J.T. “Coach Render has built a highly and Eric. successful high school football program “Coach Render has had a great imhere in Upper St. Clair, winning numerpact on our football program and on ous titles and accolades,” said Dr. John the Upper St. Clair community over Rozzo, superintendent of schools. “We the years,” said Amy Billerbeck, school are grateful for his many years of service board president. “We commend Jim on to the Upper St. Clair School District.” his achievements and wish him all the on the jumbotron is Jim Render, with his wife, Pam. Coach Render was recognized as the Shown best in his retirement.” n Jim was honored as Scholastic Coach of the Week at a Scholastic Coach of the Week by the Steelers game this past September.
USC Names New Head Football Coach Upper St. Clair stayed close to home in naming its first new head football coach in 40 years. Mike Junko, a 1992 USCHS graduate and former USC quarterback, was approved as head football coach at the School District’s board of directors meeting in January. “I am both honored and humbled to be named the next head football coach at Upper St. Clair High School,” said Coach Junko. “I look forward to honoring our program’s proud tradition, as well as leading our players into a new and exciting future.” Coach Junko’s USC ties run deep. In addition to being an alumnus, he is employed as a social studies teacher at the high school. He and his wife, Misty, reside in Upper St. Clair with their two children, Ryan and Bryn. As a two-sport athlete in high school, Mike excelled in football and baseball. He was a member of the 1989 state championship football team and captained the 1991 team, both under Coach Render. In addition, he was a member of the 1992 WPIAL championship baseball team. A graduate of the University of Akron, with a degree in political science, he was a three-year starting quarterback and two-year 34
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Spring 2019
captain of the Division 1 Zips, where he earned First Team All-Academic Mid-American Conference honors. Coach Junko has served as an assistant coach for USC for the past two seasons. Prior to joining the USC staff, he was an assistant coach at Mt. Lebanon High School for 11 years, where he held a variety of roles, including offensive assistant, quarterbacks’ coach, Coach Mike Junko, with his children, Ryan and Bryn and offensive coordinator. “Mike is an excellent choice to lead our football program into the future,” said Dr. Kevin Deitrick, USC’s director of athletics. “He is passionate about teaching and coaching and thrives on working with students to help them achieve success in the classroom and on the field.” n
