Fox Chapel HOF welcomes 7-time letterman Sasson

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, May 11, 2018 | 11:00 PM

This is the fourth in a series of profiles on the 2018 inductees into the Fox Chapel Sports Hall of Fame. The banquet will be held at the Harmar House on June 2. For more information, contact gymbeck63@aol.com.

Tim Sasson, a 1998 graduate of Fox Chapel, competed in football and track and field, earning seven varsity letters. As a football player, he was a three-year starter at offensive and defensive tackle for coach Joe Naunchik. During Sasson's last two years of varsity competition, the team finished with a record of 17-5, won the conference championship his senior season and participated in the WPIAL semifinals in 1997.

After his senior season, Sasson was voted Quad North first-team all-conference defensive tackle and second-team AP all-state defensive tackle. He also was selected to all-star teams for the North Hills News Record and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He was voted team captain prior to the season.

“Winning the school's last conference championship in football my senior year will always be one of my fondest memories,” he said. “To go from 2-8 my sophomore season to 9-2 in just two seasons will always be something that I am very proud of. I will always look very fondly at my senior football season as my greatest athletic moment.

“My group of seniors was such a special group that worked together for a common goal and changed the culture of the team that had struggled in the past to compete with larger schools. Finishing 9-2 and going undefeated in a conference with teams like Central Catholic, McKeesport, Penn Hills and Gateway was an incredible experience that I will take with me forever.”

His biggest heartbreak from his athletic career at FC also occurred on the football field.

“Losing to Penn-Trafford in the WPIAL semifinals my senior year will always be something that I truly regret. We came into the game as big favorites after beating North Allegheny at home the prior week. We lost the turnover battle and missed a 2-point conversion late in the game to tie. Even after 20 years, I still haven't watched the film of the game.”

In track and field, he competed in the shot put and discus and was coached by fellow Fox Chapel Sports Hall of Famer Pat Johnston. Sasson is the school record holder in the shot put with a record throw of 54 feet, 6¾ inches, and he finished third at the WPIAL championships in 1997.

“It was a memorable individual moment for me when I set the school record in the shot put at the WPIAL championships. It was a mark that I had always been shooting for, and to accomplish it was very satisfying.”

After graduating from Fox Chapel, he played football at IUP for one season and became a student assistant coach after suffering an injury.

He also coached football and track and field at Fox Chapel from 2003-2011. In 2008, Sasson coached WPIAL champion Matt Kann in the discus as well as Kat Luttner to the school record in the shot put in 2011. Sasson currently coaches the offensive line at Pine-Richland. In 2014, Sasson's Rams won the WPIAL Class AAAA title. They also won the PIAA Class 6A championship in 2016.

He also coaches track and field at Carlynton, where he currently works as a special education teacher. Sasson lives in Glenshaw with his wife, Heidi, and his 3 children, Carly (7), Mia (3) and Jackson (11 months).

“I was surprised and very honored to get selected for the Hall of Fame for the class of 2018. I knew that my former coach, Todd Massack, had nominated me for this a few years ago, and I was hoping for the best each year but when I finally got the call in January I was very surprised. It will be a special night. I come from a big family and hope many of them, along with friends, will be able to make the ceremony.”

Marty Stewart is a freelance writer.

Tags: Fox Chapel