ROAD TO # 400 ENDS WRESTLING SEASON
ox Chapel Area FOX CHAPEL AREA SCHOOL NEWS
Wrestling Coach Ron Frank celebrates his 400 th win on February 15 with family , friends , and his wrestlers .
ROAD TO # 400 ENDS WRESTLING SEASON
Thirty-eight years ago , Fox Chapel Area High School art teacher Ron Frank became a wrestling coach in the district . At that time , he never could have imagined that on February 15 , 2017 , he ’ d earn his 400 th career victory and become one of the best‐ever wrestling coaches .
Coach Frank is the first to admit he wasn ’ t an expert by any stretch of the imagination when he started out . But he was a quick learner , an eager student , and possessed a work ethic that has served him well throughout life .
Now , as one of the most respected coaches in the sport , Coach Frank just added to his already long list of credentials with his 400 th win , which also distinguishes him as third among the WPIAL ’ s all-time winning wrestling coaches . It ’ s an achievement that eclipses those of some of his heroes when he first began coaching – the legendary Gus DeAugustino from North Allegheny High School , Bob Siar Sr . from Shaler Area High School , and Ken Lockey from Seneca Valley High School .
“ They were great people that took the time to help a young coach ,” says Coach Frank . “ They taught me – as did two of my own teachers and coaches , Larry Mannion , who is the reason why I am a coach , and Fred DeGroot , who influenced me to be an art teacher – to never stop chasing your goals and that hard work can overcome your shortcomings , of which I have many . I was never the smartest , fastest , or strongest , so inheriting my mother ’ s work ethic was essential to any accomplishment .”
Regardless of where Coach Frank thinks he falls short , Fox Chapel Area School District ’ s director of athletics sees it differently .
“ In my 12-year tenure at Fox Chapel Area , it ’ s been my pleasure to watch Coach Frank and how he interacts with his athletes and students ,” says Michael O ’ Brien . “ It ’ s amazing how many kids come back in their later years to still be part of the program . I believe that is a true testament to the impact he ’ s had upon his students . He is certainly deserving of his 400 career victories , and I couldn ’ t be more proud of him and our wrestling program .”
Paying It Forward
Just as those coaches took him under their wing years ago , Coach Frank has always tried to pay forward the kindness he was shown . Although he might have a gruff exterior and an old-school approach to life , he has a heart of gold when it comes to his family , his wrestlers and their families
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( both past and present ), and the many students who cite his jewelry‐making class as their favorite .
“ Some people might find it hard to believe , but I get as much pleasure in seeing a great jewelry project each morning as I do a wrestling win at night ,” says the father of three grown boys , Patrick , Michael , and Timothy . All three wrestled for him when they were young and throughout high school .
A true teacher-at-heart , Coach Frank is happy about his 400 th win , but people who know him will probably groan when , with his trademark humility , he says , “ Four hundred is just a number . It was great that our four seniors all got their hands raised in victory last night .”
Coach Frank adds , “ We have a wrestling staff that works as a team and we make decisions together to benefit the students .” His staff has been with him for many years and includes Bob Siar Jr ., a PIAA champion ; Ron ’ s sons , Michael , who earned his way to the NCAA Championships , and Tim , a WPIAL champion ; and Joe Bursick , a coach with 200 wins .
He notes of himself and his assistant coaches , “ None of us measure our success in match victories , but in how successful the men and women in our program are 20 years after graduation . We have former students that now have families of their own and are carpenters , police officers , engineers , teachers , doctors , stockbrokers , and business owners . Sports is part of the educational experience and mission of the school district , and we are proud that so many of them have earned their degrees from colleges ranging from Community College of Allegheny County to Harvard and Princeton , and everything in between .”
Myriad Honors with More in Store
Coach Frank takes infinite pleasure deflecting from his own achievements , but they are numerous and shouldn ’ t be overlooked . He is an inductee of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame , as well as the national and PIAA wrestling halls of fame , yet ironically , he has yet to be inducted into the Fox Chapel Area Schools Sports Hall of Fame . That ’ s because only retired coaches are eligible for consideration .
With no signs of slowing down , and already placing his 400 th victory celebration behind him , Coach Frank now is singularly focused on what ’ s ahead for the team . As he puts it , “ It really is all about the kids .”