Bob Jacoby Steps Down As Bishop Canevin Football Coach

By: Bruce Markey
Wednesday, January 9, 2013 | 1:42 PM

One of the top coaches in the WPIAL has announced his retirement. Bob Jacoby, who led the Bishop Canevin Crusaders for 40 seasons, informed school officials that he is stepping down.

Jacoby won 234 games in his career, including a 6-4 record in 2012. Bishop Canevin advanced to the WPIAL championship game in 1983, and were WPIAL champions and PIAA runner-ups in 1990.

During his tenure at the school, he also served as the athletic director and as the girls softball coach, where he won two WPIAL titles.

Entering the 2012 season, Jacoby was third in the WPIAL, only Joe Hamilton at 47 years and Jim Render at 44 years had served as a head coach longer than Jacoby.

It does not look like the job will stay in the family as Eric Jacoby, the Bishop Canevin offensive coordinator, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he is not interested in taking over for his father.

In other coaching news, two vacancies have been filled. Laurel has tapped former Neshannock coach Pat Cuba to replace Jerry Holzhauser. Cuba stepped down at Neshannock in 2011 after leading the Lancers to a 5-4 record and their first winning season since 2004, he racked up a 17-28 record in five seasons.

Cuba has a lengthy resume, playing on two NAIA national championships teams and winning a third as an assistant at Westminster College. Cuba also coached at Slippery Rock University and at Temple under current Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.

And it’s not the first time that Cuba has been a head coach at Laurel, he also served as the schools boys basketball coach. Laurel has missed the playoffs the last three seasons, since making the WPIAL semifinals in 2009.

Shenango officials have reported that they will hire Hopewell defensive coordinator Mike Commesso on Monday as their new football coach. 22 candidates applied for the job, Commesso was decided on last night during a school board work session.

Commesso has not been a head coach, he served under his father Lou at Mohawk for four years and has been at Hopewell since 2001.

The board will meet on Monday to officially name the new coach, replacing Ryan Mayo, who stepped down after six seasons. Shenango finished 3-6 last season and has not made the playoffs since 2006.

Tags: Bishop Canevin