The winningest coach in WPIAL football history and a former NHL player from the Pittsburgh area are among the individuals selected for induction to the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
Jim Render, who won more than 400 games as a coach, and R.J. Umberger, a former Plum High School student who played more than a decade in the NHL, will be among the 12 individuals in the class of 2020 who will be inducted at the 58th annual banquet, Nov. 14 at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square.
Render coached 49 seasons in Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. He was Upper St. Clair’s coach from 1979-2018 and when he retired, his record of 406-141-6 placed him 25th in the country for most wins by a high school coach.
Umberger played 11 seasons in the NHL (2005-16) with Philadelphia and Columbus. He had 25 goals and 57 points in the 2010-11 season with Columbus.
A few other individuals with ties to Western Pennsylvania sports also are among the class of 2020. Here are the other 10 inductees:
MEREDITH ALEXIS — A former all-state basketball and volleyball player at Bishop Hoban High School in Wilkes-Barre, Alexis went on to a highly successful career at James Madison.
TOM BRADLEY — A defensive backs coach with the Steelers, Bradley spent more than three decades as an assistant coach at Penn State. He was named the Associated Press college defensive coordinator of the year in 2005.
MARQUES COLSTON — The all-time receptions leader in New Orleans Saints history, Colston played at Susquehanna Township High School in Harrisburg.
MARY ELLEN BOYLE JUTCA — Outstanding basketball player at Immaculate Conception, a small school in Washington that is now closed, Boylan Jutca went on to become a two-sport athlete (basketball and tennis) at Villanova. Was first female athlete inducted into Villanova Sports Hall of Fame.
BRIAN MILNE — A former state champion in the shot put and discus at Fort LeBoeuf High School near Erie, Milne went on to play running back at Penn State and then in the NFL. He also won an NCAA discus championship at Penn State.
JOHN REINSTRA — Played at Academy of New Church High School near Philadelphia and was a first-round draft pick of the Steelers in 1986.
TIM RUDDY — A standout football lineman at Dunmore in eastern Pa., Ruddy went on to play at Notre Dame and was later a Pro Bowl player with the Miami Dolphins.
These three individuals will be inducted posthumously
BETTY MULLEN BREY — Was an Olympic swimmer (1956 Games) who also won NCAA and Pan Am Games championships. Her son is Mike Brey, the Notre Dame men’s basketball coach.
LASH NESSER — Legendary former boys basketball coach at Uniontown St. John’s and Uniontown High School. Still fourth on WPIAL all-time list for wins with a record of 680-297.
JOE SOLOMON — A WPIAL, PIAA and NCAA wrestling champion, Solomon is a Canonsburg High graduate who went on to big success at Pitt. He also officiated five NCAA wrestling championship tournaments.
Mike White: mwhite@post-gazette.com and Twitter @mwhiteburgh
First Published: April 21, 2020, 7:54 p.m.
