Assistant promoted
Mike Junko replaces retired coach Jim Render at Upper St. Clair.
Upper St. Clair High School didn’t wait long to hire a new football coach. The school didn’t have to look far, either.
Upper St. Clair hired Mike Junko as the new coach at a school board meeting Monday night. Junko takes over for the legendary Jim Render, who retired as coach Jan. 3 after 49 seasons, including 40 at Upper St. Clair. Render is the winningest coach in WPIAL history with a 406-141-6 record.
Upper St. Clair plucked Junko off Render’s staff. Junko was an assistant coach the past two seasons. Junko, 44, is a 1992 graduate of Upper St. Clair and also is a social studies teacher there. He was a reserve quarterback for Render on the 1989 team that won WPIAL and PIAA titles.
Junko has the highest respect for Render. When asked how hard it would be taking over for a legend, Junko said: “If you spend a lot of time focusing on that or thinking about that, it might only serve to paralyze you. You just have to work on making each day the most productive you can. Our focus right now is to have a great workout in the weight room [Tuesday]. If you dwell too much on having to replace a legend, you’re not going to get far. You have to establish your own culture and your own identity as well.
“But still, having the opportunity work with Jim and play for him, a lot of the lessons I learned I’ll take forward with me.”
Before he came to Upper St. Clair, Junko was an assistant at Mt. Lebanon for 11 seasons. He played college football for the University of Akron under Gerry Faust.
“I’m very happy that they hired someone who is from Upper St. Clair and is successful,” said Render. “Mike’s a hard worker, and he’s bright.”
Junko is the son of Bob Junko, a longtime Pitt assistant football coach who now holds the title of director of player development and high school relations for the Panthers. Mike Junko said he didn’t come to Upper St. Clair two seasons ago to follow Render.
“This is a special place that holds a special place in my heart,” Junko said of Upper St. Clair. “Just the opportunity to come back and be part of the program again was the reason. I thought that when Jim decided to walk away, the opportunity might be there for me. But it wasn’t something that made the decision for me.”
As for Render, he got sort of a retirement gift from the Steelers — a trip to Orlando, Fla., for the NFL Pro Bowl next week.
The trip for Render will happen because of the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award. Every NFL team nominates one coach for the award, and all nominees are brought to Orlando Jan. 24. The Steelers nominated Render.
All 32 nominated coaches will attend the Pro Bowl, and the winner of the Don Shula Award will be announced at the game. The winner and the runner-up also get a trip to the Super Bowl.
“I have no idea what my chances of winning the whole thing are,” Render said of the award. “But just to be picked to represent the Steelers for this is a pretty good honor in itself.”