BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      Legendary former Boardman High School girls basketball coach, Ron Moschella, 72, of West Glen Dr., died Wed., Jan. 4.
      Coach Moschella joined the Lady Spartans basketball program in 1978 and serving first as an assistant coach and then becoming head coach for the 1980-81 season, serving in that capacity held that position for 31 years where he compiled a record of 569-155.
      During the current season, he returned to the Lady Spartans bench where he served as an assistant coach.
      Coach Moschella elevated the Lady Spartans to new heights with 19 Steel Valley Conference titles and two Federal League crowns.
      The 2002 United Press International and Associated Press “Coach of the Year,” he was a 21-time recipient of the Mahoning Valley Coaches Association “Coach of the Year” award, a four-time recipient (1986, 1992, 1995 and 2002) of NEO “Coach of the Year” laurels and the 2001 Ohio High School Basketball Association “Coach of the Year” honor as well.
      Selected to coach in the 1987 Ohio State All Star game, his Boardman teams advanced to district play in 21 seasons, winning 14 district titles and finishing as runners-up on seven other occasions.
      The Lady Spartans were regional finalists in 1986, 1996, 2001 and 2005, and won the regional title in 2005 and 2008 and were regional semifinalists on ten separate occasions. Under Coach Moschella, Boardman teams advanced to the Ohio ‘Final Four’ twice, in 2005 and 2008.
      He was also honored by the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association for his 500th victory in 2007 and again 2013 for his 600th win.
      Following his career at Boardman, Moschella led Columbiana High School Lady Clippers basketball for six seasons where he compiled a 130-21 record.
      During his tenure at Columbiana, in Dec., 2017, he won his 700th game as a basketball coach, when Columbiana defeated Mineral Ridge, 70-32.
      His 2015-16 Lady Clippers team went undefeated in the regular season, before losing to Ursuline in the district finals.
      Coach Moschella was inducted into the Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Boardman High School Hall of Fame in 2013.
      In Apr. 2016, he was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, joining former Spartan head boys basketball coach, Al Burns, as the only Boardman coaches to receive the honor.
      Many of his players went on to play in college, including at Ohio State, Michigan State, Indiana State, Akron, Penn State and Youngstown State. At one time, four of his former players were on the court for the Penguins---including two of his daughters, Christine and Nadine, as well as Liz Hauger and Mary Valley.
      He was often seen ‘coming off the bench’ and exhorting his players, most if not all of whom would tell you his bark was bigger than his bite.
      Coach Moschella sounded a common chord to all his players---“Time, plus hard work, plus discipline, plus pride, equals champions.”
      He was known for his demand of excellence from his players, not only on the court, but also in the classroom. In 2000, he was named the Boardman High School Teacher of the Year.
      A 1968 graduate of Ursuline High School, where he was a member of the basketball team, he was a 1972 graduate of Kent State University where he earned his bachelor of science degree in business and physical education. He earned his masters degree from Youngstown State University in 1980.
      He began his teaching/coaching career in the Howland Local Schools where he taught marketing education and served as Tigers golf coach for seven years, baseball coach for three years and tennis coach for two years.
      He moved to Boardman High School in 1978 where he taught marketing education, business law and physical education. In addition to his duties as head girls basketball coach, he also served a girls golf coach for several years.
      Coach Moschella and his high school sweetheart and wife, Judy, raised three daughters: Christine (Brian Terlesky), Nadine (Nick Colla) and Jolene (Don Ross), who all played for their father at Boardman where each was inducted into the Boardman High School Hall of Fame. They have ten grandchildren---Brian, Tyler, Emma, Jimmy, Jenna, Nicholas, Lia, Tessa, Gianna and Lena.
      Ron was born March 2, 1950 in Youngstown, the son of Joseph and Harriet Moschella
     
      PICTURE: RON MOSCHELLA, WHO SERVED AS head girls basketball coach at Boardman High School for 31 years, died Wed., Jan. 4 at the age of 72. His teams won 19 Steel Valley Conference titles and two Federal League crowns. Following his retirement as Lady Spartan head coach, Boardman Township Trustees issued a proclamation designating Feb. 27, 2012 as Ron Moschella Day.