Moschella enshrined in OHSBCA Hall of Fame

May 4, 2016 at 12:08a.m.

Longtime girls mentor

plans to keep working

BOARDMAN

One of the newest members of the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame says he’s not through, at least not for two more years.

On April 23 in Columbus, Ron Moschella was one of four inductees into the OHSBA’s Hall of Fame. The longtime Boardman High School girls varsity coach is a cancer survivor who plans to return for a fifth season as Columbiana’s girls coach.

And maybe a sixth.

“Being around those kids is great,” said Moschella, whose record coaching girls basketball is 637-172. “I want to be around them for another couple of years. They keep me young.

“We have a nice team coming back, really dedicated kids,” Moschella said. “I look forward to coaching them.”

The 2017-18 season could be his last as he’s pondering retirement so he can watch his two oldest grandchildren — Jenna Vivo and Brian Terlesky — should they play golf in college. The Boardman High School sophomores are among the best teen golfers in the Mahoning Valley.

“I’ll be there,” Moschella said. “I just enjoy [watching them]. When she hits the ball, I’m into it. I was never that good.”

Moschella said watching his 10 grandchildren participate in activities has made him realize what he overlooked when he was coaching his three daughters — Christine (Terlesky), Nadine (Colla) and Jolene (Ross) — to careers surpassing 1,000 points for Boardman.

“I’ve learned through my grandchildren to appreciate what they did,” Moschella said. “I just get the biggest thrill out of watching [grandchildren]. I don’t think I appreciated [my daughters’ skills] as much as I should have.

“They were pretty good.”

A 1968 graduate of Ursuline High School, Moschella is a 1972 graduate of Kent State University with teaching degrees for business and physical education. In 1980, he earned his masters for education administration.

Moschella began his teaching career in the Howland school system where he coached tennis, golf and baseball. In 1978, he moved to Boardman where he taught business law, marketing education and physical education at Boardman High School.

He became the Spartans’ head coach for the varsity girls basketball team in 1981 and coached 31 seasons. Under his tenure, the Spartans won 19 Steel Valley Conference and two Federal League championships. Twenty-one times, he was honored by the Mahoning Valley Coaches Association as Coach of the Year.

In 1986, 1996 and 2001, the Spartans finished as Division I regional finalist. In 2005, the Spartans took a step further, winning the regional tournament to earn Moschella his first trip to the state tournament in Columbus.

“My most unlikely team got us there, they worked so hard,” Moschella said of the group that played following the Amber Bland years. Among those celebrating with Moschella at the Columbus Marriott ceremony were members of that 2004-05 squad, including Joannie Perez Book, Lauren Sirak, Brittany Winters, Allison O’Brien, Courtney Schiffauer and Elizabeth Yazbek.

“It’s nice they were there,” Moschella said. “We had a good time.”

In 2008, during Schiffauer’s senior season before playing for Michigan State, the Spartans earned another state trip.

Health issues forced Moschella to resign in December 2011. Jeff Hammerton, his assistant, took over the Spartans program.

Five months later, Moschella felt well enough to coach but didn’t want to step on Hammerton’s toes. So he accepted Columbiana superintendent Don Mook’s invitation to apply for the Columbiana girls head coaching job.

After two seasons, Moschella added the Clippers’ boys team to his busy schedule. It was overwhelming and last fall as the season was about to begin, Moschella stepped down as Columbiana boys coach.

In his speech at the OHSBCA ceremony, Moschella paid tribute to the heroes in his life, including athletes and especially family. Among those he cited were his wife, Judy, and his daughters, especially Christine, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2013 and had to retire from teaching and coaching.

“Every day, my wife goes to work then goes to take care of my daughter,” Moschella said. “My kids are heroes to me. Sometimes kids teach their fathers — they taught me a lot about life.”

He calls Christine his “ultimate hero” for how she’s been able to remain positive in the face of a devastating illness.

“With all that has afflicted her, she still had great attitude, making the best out of her life,” Moschella said. “We all have problems — what [her illness] has taught me is to live every day to the fullest.”

Moschella said his family is thrilled about Saturday’s “Fan Forum with former Buckeye Athletes” that will be in the Boardman High gymnasium beginning at 4 p.m. Among the former Ohio State athletes scheduled to appear are Terence Dials (Boardman graduate), Troy Smith, Bobby Carpenter, Kirk Barton, Chris “Beanie” Wells and Dustin Fox.

Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Terlesky family to help with the battle against ALS.

“Unbelievable, such a warm feeling,” said Moschella of his reaction to hearing about the event. “Dials is behind it.”

Moschella recalled the time when Dials was a Boardman freshman helping out at one of his practices.

“I was showing [my players] how to post up — right foot in, then I pivot and he can’t stop me,” said Moschella, proud of his moment of going around a future Buckeye basketball player.

Later, Christine, one of his assistants, burst his bubble.

“You know, he let you,” his daughter shared, revealing that Dials was behind the coach smiling at his players, winking about the upcoming “power” move.

For tickets or more information about the benefit, visit the website VarsityPartners.org/tickets.

Moschella was one of four coaches inducted into the Hall of fame. The others were: Norm Persin, Oak Hill; Bob Von Kaenel, Tuscarawas Valley; and Steve Williman, Liberty Benton.

“You should see the ring they gave me,” Moschella said. “It looks like I won a Super Bowl.”

Known for his demonstrative vocal stylings on the court, Moschella managed to stay within the 12-minute limit for his acceptance speech.

“The others all went on for 25 minutes or so,” Moschella said. “What are you going to do?”