Latrobe community mourning loss of former coach and teacher Rick Kozusko

By: Paul Schofield
Monday, September 23, 2024 | 8:49 PM

Latrobe public address announcer Greg Fenton got choked up before Friday’s football game against Armstrong.

That’s because he was reading a tribute about his spotter and former Latrobe teacher, coach and graduate Rick Kozusko, who died suddenly Thursday.

Kozusko was 72.

“It was tough not having him there,” Fenton said. “He was my spotter for 12 years. He is going to be missed.

“Rich loved Latrobe, the school and everything about the community. He was a great teacher and coach.”

Kozusko was 1970 graduate of Latrobe. He played on the Wildcats’ WPIAL Class 3A championship football team, was an assistant football coach for 20 years, was a baseball assistant for 10 years and was an assistant and head softball coach for 10 years.

He was a youth coach: American Legion, Teener League, Jr. Pro basketball, Latrobe and West Point Little League.

He graduated from PennWest California, where he played baseball, and Pitt.

He taught at Saint Vincent Catholic School before being hired by Greater Latrobe School District, first in the elementary school and then at the junior high school, where he taught civics and United States history.

Latrobe Superintendent Mike Porembka said Kozusko was a fixture in the junior high.

“He was the best cooperative teacher, and he was mine when I started,” Porembka said. “He taught me a lot, and I wouldn’t be in the position I am if it wasn’t for him.

“He told me to remember you don’t know what a student has gone through before he or she have entered the school.”

Kozusko was born April 9, 1952, and is the son of the late Michael J. and Mary H. (Mizak) Kozusko.

He is survived by his wife, Anita L. (Duralia) Kozusko, and children Matt and his wife Jamie; Danny and wife Lauren; and Meghan Mays and husband Ben; eight grandchildren Zander, Liviana, Brody, Paxton, Riley and Myles Kozusko and Nate and Maddie Mays and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was an avid Pitt football and Pirates follower.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Latrobe