The 57th Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame banquet is set for May 3, 2026, with Louis Lipps, former Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints wide receiver set to serves as guest speaker.
      Sponsored by Briarfield Health Care Centers and Ed and Diane Reese, the event will induct 12 new members at Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center, 740 South Avenue, Boardman.
      The 2026 class includes Bonnie Beachy (basketball, posthumous), Rich Denamen (basketball), Dave Dravecky (baseball), John R. Greene (football), YSU President Bill Johnson (contribution to sports), Vince Julian (special award), Billy Lyell (boxing), Rich Martinko (baseball), Tom Morella (contribution to sports), George Phillips (baseball), Jerry Sweed (contribution to sports) and Sonny Vaccaro (contribution to sports).
      Born August 9, 1962, in New Orleans, Lipps is a graduate of East St. John (Reserve, Louisiana) High School.
      He earned a scholarship to Southern Mississippi University upon graduation and from 1980-83, earned four letters as a wide receiver-kick return specialist as he helped the Golden Eagles to a 32-13-1 overall mark and two Bowl appearances.
      He played his freshman and sophomore seasons under head coach Bobby Collins as the team posted a 9-3-0 overall mark and a 16-14 victory in the Independence Bowl over McNeese State his initial collegiate campaign, following that up with a 9-2-1 ledger as a sophomore and a hard-fought, 19-17 loss to Missouri in the Tangerine Bowl.
      He recorded two receptions for 28 yards, along with eight punt returns for 54 yards and three kick returns for 61 yards his freshman year, following that up with an expanded role that produced nine catches for 181 yards and a touchdown, and seven punt returns for 31 yards his sophomore campaign.
      Collins left after the 1981 season and Jim Carmody took over as head coach for USM with the 1982 season a breakout year for Lipps.
      That junior year, he tallied 38 receptions for 468 yards and two touchdowns along with two carries for 10 yards, excelling on special teams where he returned 23 punts for 280 yards and a touchdown.
      As a senior in 1983, also under Carmody, he had his most productive year as he registered 42 receptions for 800 yards and five touchdowns along with six carries for 52 yards and a rushing touchdown. He continued to shine as a return specialist, amassing 460 yards on 40 punt returns.
      In 1983, he was named to the first-team All-South Independent (1983) team and as a junior in 1982, was a second-team selection.
      He was selected by the Steelers in the first-round of the 1984 NFL draft (23rd overall selection) and played a total of nine seasons professionally, eight with the Steelers (1984-91, 1993) and one with the New Orleans Saints (1992).
      During his first outing with the Steelers, he caught an 80-yard touchdown pass from David Woodley against the Kansas City Chiefs and went on to score another touchdown during the game, this time on a 21-yard pass from Mark Malone giving him two touchdowns in his professional debut.
      By the conclusion of his inaugural season, he broke the National Football League record for punt return yardage by a rookie with 656 yards, returning one for a touchdown while catching 45 passes for 860 yards and nine tallies.
      For his efforts, he was named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year and was also named to the AFC Pro Bowl team that year.
      During a stellar professional career, he caught 359 passes for 6,019 total yards while scoring 39 total touchdowns.
      In addition to his rookie laurels, he was a two-time first-team All-Pro, a two-time second-team All-Pro selection and a two-time Pro Bowl selection (1984, 1985).
      Named to the PFWA (Professional Football Writers Association all-Rookie Team (1984), he earned the team’s Joe Greene Great Performance Award (1984) and was also named to the Steelers’ Hall of Honor.
      Doors open at 4 p.m., dinner will be served at 5 p.m. with the program set to commence at 6 p.m. Individual tickets are $60 each, tables of eight $480 and will be available after February 1. Further information can be obtained by calling 330-506-6774 or by visiting the organization’s website at www.thecurbstonecoaches.org.