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He won more than 1,000 games in 2 sports
The Vindicator
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Dom Rosselli with Tony Lariccia with the 12 foot 1500 pound statue dedicated to Dom Rosselli.
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Former YSU basketball coach Don Rosselli speaks to the crowd gathered at Beeghly Stadium while being honored. Don's wife of 62 years, Connie, stands by his side in center court.
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Don Rosselli is honored with a jersey in his name during a ceremony at halftime at Beeghly Stadium marking his years as a YSU basketball coach. The number589 on the jersey denotes the number of wins YSU had under the instruction of Rosselli
DOM ROSSELLI, 93
COACH WAS TRUE CHAMP
STAFF REPORT
YOUNGSTOWN — Dom Rosselli, the winningest coach in two sports in Youngstown State history, leaves a legacy that reached thousands of people in all walks of life.
Rosselli won more than 1,000 games coaching the YSU men’s basketball and baseball programs for a combined 69 years.
He also served as an assistant football coach for 21 seasons. He passed away Tuesday at age 93.
“Dom Rosselli was one of the true champions of YSU, not only on the basketball court, the baseball diamond and the football field, but across the university and the Mahoning Valley,” YSU president Dr. David Sweet said in a statement released by the university.
Rosselli led the Youngstown State basketball team from 1940-42 and 1945-82, compiling a record of 589-388. His term was interrupted by two years in the U.S. Air Force during World War II.
His career began when then-Youngstown College was affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and ended with Youngstown State University a member of NCAA Division I and the Ohio Valley Conference.
“He’s a legend on our campus as far as being a great basketball coach, but his legacy is that he was a wonderful man who cared about people and who had a soft spirit about him and he was a kind and wonderful person,” said Youngstown State men’s basketball coach Jerry Slocum.
He also started the school’s baseball program, finishing a 31-year career with a 486-314 mark. He led the Penguins to several NAIA and NCAA tournament appearances.
“You knew that you were playing for a legend when you played for Coach Rosselli,” said Steve Bartolin, who played baseball at YSU and is now President/CEO of The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colo. “That was really neat to me. Dom really cared about his athletes. He took them all to heart — personally. Often times it is difficult to maintain a relationship with your coach after you graduate, but Dom Rosselli was the exception.”
He coached former major league pitcher and YSU hall of famer inductee Dave Dravecky to a four-year career record of 21-7, including a 7-1 mark in 1977, and a career earned run average of 1.85.
“Most of the time when we refer to people as legends, it’s only half true,” said former YSU athletic director Joe Malmisur. “When you talk about Dom Rosselli it’s six times true. He was indeed a man who will be most missed. Not just as a coach, but as a man. He was indeed a great friend to this community. He loved Youngstown State with a passion.”
A graduate of The Rayen School, Rosselli was born March 19, 1915. He attended Geneva College and started in three sports. Rosselli led Geneva to a football victory over Youngstown College in 1938. He earned a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and began coaching at Youngstown State as an assistant football coach to Dwight “Dike” Beede and assistant basketball coach to Ray Sweeney before succeeding Sweeney in 1940.
“Coach Rosselli was the epitome of the coach [and] family man,” said former YSU and major-league pitcher Mike Glinatsis. “His priorities were always in the right order but what impressed me most was the fact that he ran a squeaky clean program; not only basketball but baseball as well. Programs just aren’t like that nowadays. Coach never gave in to any outside temptations and his players we were all the better because of that simple quality he possessed.”
Rosselli was named NCAA District IV coach of the year and Ohio coach of the year in 1957 and 1964, and the Italian Coach of the Year. Rosselli was named to the Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame in 1978 and was named to the charter class of the Youngstown State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1985. He was also named Penguin of the Year in 1999.
“Mr. Rosselli was one of the most influential, if not the most influential person in my life,” said Billy Johnson, who played basketball at YSU from 1968-72 and is inducted in the school’s hall of fame. “I ended up at Youngstown State University because of one very special person — Mr. Rosselli. He was absolutely the greatest person in my life and I just cannot tell you, nor can I describe to you what he has meant to both me and my family.”
Ron Allen, a basketball and baseball player at YSU from 1964-66 who later played in the majors, said he was greatly influenced by Rosselli.
“He had a lasting impact on all of the players who were lucky enough to play for him,” said Allen. “To me, he was an even greater human being.”
Rosselli was also known for his sense of humor.
“No one was safe from one of his puns,” said Lou “Chip” Zitello, a YSU baseball player from 1969-72. “His one-liners were legendary.”
One of Zitello’s teammates, Jim Hamrock, also remembered the man.
“He coached you according to what you were. He might have screamed a little or yelled a bit during practice, but he had a human aspect away from the athletic arena second to none. He had a sense of humor and was a really funny person. He truly cared about those who played for him.”
Greg Gulas played baseball for Rosselli and later worked with him as YSU’s sports information director.
“He was a throwback — teaching us not only about the game of baseball, but about life as well. One lesson that he imparted on everyone of his players was that in order to get respect, you have to give it and when you earned Coach Rosselli’s respect, believe me you hit the lottery.”
Former YSU football coach Jim Tressel remembered Rosselli as a man for the community.
“Coach Rosselli loved his family, his church, his players, his school and his community,” said Tressel. “He will be missed by so many because he impacted so many lives.”
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland signed a proclamation, ordering flags to be flown at half-mast in the City today and Thursday in Rosselli’s honor.