PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A member of three Halls of Fame and spending over three decades with the Pitt program, Pitt Director of Player Development & High School Relations Bob Junko retired on Friday.
"He said now he is got to go to work," said Pitt Head Coach Pat Narduzzi after the Panthers Spring practice on Friday. "He said he hasn't worked for 54 years, now he's got to go home to the honey-do list."
A Trinity grad, Junko was an Honorable Mention All-American linebacker at the University of Tulsa in 1967 along with being all-conference twice and a team captain. Junko was associate head coach and defensive coordinator for seven years at the University of Akron. He also coached at Northwestern, TCU and Tulsa before returning home to Pitt.
"He's impacted every one of the players on this team," Narduzzi said. "Everybody that is here, Coach Junko has touched. He's awesome. We are going to miss him."
"He means so much to this program," said receiver Jared Wayne. "Just seeing him and the enthusiasm that he brings every day, never misses a day. That inspires us to bring our all every day. We love him here."
"I love Coach Junk," said senior center Owen Drexel. "He's such a special guy. Every day walking by his office. I love him to death. He's a very special guy."
Drexel said they saluted him after practice Friday by chanting one of his favorite sayings of 'saw that wood'. He also was the driving force behind 'Perfect Thursdays'.
During game weeks, Thursday is the final on-field practice before the Saturday matchup. The 75-year-old Junko would be at the entrance to the field, all revved up early in the morning asking, or maybe better said yelling, 'what day is this'?
The players would have to shout back, 'it's Perfect Thursday' before they could start drills.
"His energy every day," Narduzzi said. "He is everything about this program. He is Pitt. We can't think him enough for everything that he has done. He has energy every day. The kids love him. He's a big part of this program and still will be."
