Legendary coach being inducted into 9th Hall of Fame

COATESVILLE >> Ross Kershey, the legendary former Coatesville High School basketball coach, will be inducted into his ninth Hall of Fame Friday.

Kershey, also known as the “Silver Fox,” will be inducted into the Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame for his achievements as a basketball and track coach. Kershey was born and raised in Connellsville and hasn’t been to to Fayette County since he left to accept a position at Coatesville High School.

“People don’t remember me because I haven’t been there since

1956, but it’s quite an honor for me to be remembered by my hometown,” Kershey said. “The recognition is finally coming through.”

Kershey was nominated twice before for the Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame but never elected. He has been inducted into the Connellsville Sports Hall of Fame, Ches-Mont League Hall of Fame, Chester County Sports Hall of Fame, Delaware County Sports Hall of Fame, Coatesville City Hall of Fame, Coatesville Sports Hall of Fame, the Philadelphia Area Hall of Fame and the PIAA State Track and Field Hall of Fame.

In Coatesville, many regard Kershey as a legend. He spent 42 years at Coatesville Area School District, taught history and coached basketball for 28 years and track for 18 years. He compiled a 462-129 basketball and 103-1 track record, unparalleled in Red Raider history. Kershey was Coatesville Area School District’s Educator of the Year and the district’s facilities are named after Kershey.

“Being a legend means that I’m just old,” Kershey said.

Being elected into this Hall of Fame puts Kershey in elite company, which also includes University of Pittsburgh and Connellsville, native John Woodruff, who won the 800-meter gold medal with a time of 1:52.9 in the 1936 Summer Olympics, and former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Lujack who played for the Chicago Bears.

Kershey, 88, said that while it’s an honor to be elected into his ninth Hall of Fame, he’s even more elated that he is in good health.

“The fact that I’m still in relatively good health is the best thing I can say about myself,” Kershey said.

During a 14-year career at Coatesville High School as track coach, Kershey compiled a dual meet record of 103 wins and 1 loss. His teams won 13 Ches-Mont Championships, 14 League Relay Championships and two District 1 Titles.

His coaching career includes 10 State Champions. George Holmes won three gold medals in 1974 and Tom Gomillion won two gold medals and one silver medal in 1961.The 1974 team, Kershey’s last, won the Ches-Mont, District 1 and State Championships. The ‘74 team also won the Eastern U.S. Championship in a meet at Randall’s Island in New York. The team of Dave Lapp, Ron Hunt, George Holmes and Doug Lewis won the Penn Relays Mile Relay Championship of America defeating the teams from Jamaica.

Up until last year, Kershey had been teaching U.S. History at Immaculata University.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Ross Kershey will be inducted into his ninth Hall of Fame.