California University of Pennsylvania Athletics

Jeff Petrucci’s 2,944 yards of total offense in 1968 led the entire NAIA and remains a school record to this day. Bruce Dal Canton’s 1.03 earned run average in 1962 was a school and PSAC record for over 40 years while Bill DePaoli’s 1977 and 1979 NAIA national championships and 124 career victories will always be listed among the university’s great athletic achievements.

One individual who witnessed and contributed to the extraordinary success these gifted student-athletes achieved was Edward P. LaCotta, who deservedly joins these and many other superb student-athletes as members of California University’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

Without media attention, state-of-the-art athletic facilities that now exist or recognition other than a small retirement luncheon, Ed LaCotta faithfully and effectively served as Cal U’s equipment manager and gymnasium supervisor from 1962 through 1987. A graduate of Brownsville High School and longtime resident of Coal Center, LaCotta passed away on September 11, 2002, at the age of 77. He and his wife, the late Sophia Oslensky-LaCotta, were the parents of two grown daughters—Barbara Rumble and Holly Moore. Ed was also a veteran and served with the U.S. Navy during World War II.

“E.P. was the second most important person here after the president,” said Petrucci who was a Vulcan quarterback from 1966-68 and served as the Cal U football head coach from 1981 through 1992. “He was the greatest company man this university ever had. If you needed something that you could not buy he would make it. If something was ripped he sewed it. Whatever was dirty he cleaned. As a player he did everything for you. He was the best.”

Having always respected LaCotta, Petrucci’s acknowledgment of the unheralded equipment manager’s many duties strengthened during his coaching days.

“As a player I knew how good Ed was but I do not think I appreciated just how important he was,” Petrucci said. “Ed was the standard. When we went to an away game with LaCotta there was nothing we needed that he did not bring. If it was raining we had ponchos if it was real hot he had extra towels. There was always extra equipment, balls, and so on. He knew everything and did everything.”

The tight budgetary constraints of today are nothing new for the university or country. Even in the most challenging of times, LaCotta found a way.

“I remember years ago I got a equipment magazine and it had something in there that was a ball holder that kickers could use by themselves to practice extra-points and field goals without needing someone to hold the ball on a tee,” Petrucci said. “It cost about $80 which was $80 more than we could spend. Ed asked to see it. Two days later I came back and he made one out of two pieces of pipe and an old garden hose and it worked. That was the type of person he was. You name it he did it. You talk about making more with less. Ed LaCotta was more with less.”

LaCotta’s spirit and intensity matched his skills and at times his sincerity rivaled a fired up coach.

“There was nothing you would want that he could not get for you,” said Petrucci. “However he gave you a hard time, would yell at you and complained about it and was tough. That was his nature. But he sincerely cared and always got his job done. That was the great thing about Ed LaCotta. As a head football coach you wear many hats and are responsible for many things. One thing you never had to worry about was Ed LaCotta’s part. When Ed LaCotta was responsible for something that something was always going to be done.

Accompanying LaCotta for 20 years on the job, whether it was at Adamson Stadium, Booster Field, the old athletic locker rooms in Herron Hall or the bowels of Hamer Hall was Bill Clendaniel.

“We never had an argument in 20 years and it was really something working with him,” Clendaniel said. “He worked long hours all the time and if you gave him any type of problem he would solve it. We had a great relationship and he was just a do-it-all kind of guy.”

While LaCotta’s loyalty and many years of effective service make him a most deserved inductee, Clendaniel does not believe his colleague of many years would be too comfortable about joining the Hall of Fame.

“He really did not want the limelight at all,” Clendaniel said. “I do not think he would be overjoyed because he preferred to be on the sidelines. That’s just the kind of guy he was.”

LaCotta’s less-than-flamboyant style makes him all the more of a worthy Hall of Fame member according to Petrucci.

“Without question he deserves this honor,” Petrucci said. He was a blue-collar guy who made do with what he had and never worried about what he didn’t have. That was Ed LaCotta.

“In an athletic Hall of Fame, there are standards. There are standards for coaching, and players, regardless of what position. Someone has done something. EP set the standard for equipment men. I can’t believe any other institution has had anyone better. He was the Heisman Trophy of equipment managers, truly the best.”