Bill Cleary reflects on career as longtime coach, AD
As one of the most successful girls basketball coaches in WPIAL history — with 10 WPIAL championship appearances, four WPIAL titles, a PIAA title and more than 600 career victories to his name — Bill Cleary left behind a lasting legacy at Serra Catholic when he announced his retirement in March.
Cleary isn’t quite finished with his duties yet, though. His 34-year coaching career may be over, but he’s still finishing out his final term as Serra’s athletic director after 38 years. The Eagles baseball team faced Shenango Monday in the PIAA Class 2A semifinals, and a win would earn them a second consecutive trip to the state championship game on Thursday.
Although retired life is calling his name, Cleary is enjoying his final ride with a chance to raise one more banner at the school before calling it a career. He already guided Serra to an undefeated regular season and one last WPIAL championship game appearance in his final season as coach, but he has been savoring the baseball team’s playoff run as well.
The Post-Gazette decided to catch up with the longtime teacher, coach, athletic director and WPIAL board of directors member to discuss his legendary career, going out on a high note, his future plans and more.
Q: What did you think about that PIAA playoff baseball quarterfinal game against Seton LaSalle?
A: Oh, incredible. Incredible game. It was just night and day from the last time we played them. It was really something.
Q: Kind of similar to 2019 when Seton beat you guys in the WPIAL championship then you got your revenge in the PIAA semifinals, right?
A: Absolutely. That WPIAL semifinal game, we walked too many guys and had errors. The big inning when they pushed it to the 10run rule, they scored seven runs on three hits. But the kids really shored it all up [on Thursday] and came to play.
Q: So I guess there’s a chance you can go out on top with one more state championship banner before retiring as AD?
A: Oh yeah, that would be fantastic. I still have something left in the tank and I’m ready to be there with boys.
Q: You said you were planning some COVIDfriendly vacations when we spoke about your retirement back in March. Have you taken any yet?
A: Well, we just came back over the Memorial Day weekend from Gatlinburg, Tenn. We spent four days there during the Memorial Day weekend. It rained down there, but we had a good time. My wife [Maureen] and I, her brother and sister and their spouses. A little family get-together.
Q: I actually went on vacation there about eight or nine years ago. How was your trip?
A: It’s an interesting place up there in the Smoky Mountains. The house we rented was up on top of a mountain. Winding road all the way up. It was pretty crowded because it was Memorial Day. And we went over to Pigeon Forge and took a ride through there.
Q: Any other vacations planned this year?
A: We’re headed to Myrtle Beach in August and Key West, Fla., in November, a little after Thanksgiving.
Q: I’m guessing you probably never got to take three vacations in one year until now, huh?
A: No, never happened. We would get that Myrtle Beach one in and that would be about it.
Q: You also told me you were looking forward to spending more time with your grandchildren. Have you been enjoying your extra free time with them?
A: I have one grandson, Riley. He’s 11 years old. He’s here with me right now. He’s taking an online class now, so pap is staying out of his way for awhile.
Q: How many children do you have?
A: I have two sons. Brandon and Jordan. Both Serra graduates as well.
Q: Were you teaching at Serra when they went there?
A: Yes I was, and I had them all in class, too. So that was always an interesting scenario for them. ‘I had dad for class today.’
Q: What classes did you teach?
A: I have taught all the social sciences. Social studies, and I taught health and phys ed. So I may have had them in a psychology class or a health class or gym. Interesting mix.
Q: Even though you lost in the championship, could you have possibly
scripted a better final season to go out on as girls basketball coach?
A: Well, if you lose the final game, you always look back and say, ‘We could have done this or I wish I would have done that.’ But all and all, this was probably one of the most satisfying seasons I ever had as a coach and probably a good one to go out on, because those kids played fantastic all season. They won tough ballgames, they meshed well together, and to be quite honest with you, it was a really easy team to coach.
Q: Is it safe to say you approve of the school’s decision to hire Matt Bacco as your replacement?
A: Oh, no doubt. Matt is a 1997 Serra grad. I was his baseball coach when he was in high school. I was the baseball coach at one time as well. Matt is a fantastic coach. It was a great hire by our administration, and he’s going to do a fantastic job, I have no doubt in that. He’s a very dedicated and thorough coach, and he’ll relate well with the girls. I think they’re going to be happy, and they’ll achieve a lot with him. And his sister [Bria Gwosden] was my point guard on the 2005 state championship team, and she’ll be his assistant. So Serra continues on with its people.
Q: Were you involved in the hiring process at all?
A: I didn’t take a real active role in the selection of the coach. That was handled by Bob Childs, who will be the new athletic director, and the administration. I stuck my nose in a little bit, but not much. I gave some recommendations, but I wanted to step back and see how the process went.
Q: I have to ask — what are your thoughts on the never-ending debate between public and private schools? Do you think there should be separate postseason tournaments for both?
A: No, there should not be a separate tournament. There’s not a lot of private schools out there as it is right
now. There’s been school closures and everything else. As a 20-year member of the WPIAL board which will come to an end this year as well, I always felt that with the transfer rules and the way they are, that would level the playing field. I know everybody always felt the Catholic schools can bring in kids from wherever, and there’s no doubt about that. It can happen. And the private schools, too. But there have to be certain qualifications met to approve the transfer. Boths schools have to sign off. I think we at the WPIAL were very thorough in examining all transfers.
Q: What will you miss the most about being a coach?
A: The anticipation of the season coming up. You want to see the returning kids, how they developed. Did they get any better? Usually they do. And also you look at the young kids. Are they going to be able to fit in? Are they going to be able to crack the starting lineup at the varsity level? There was always that anticipation.
Q: Is there any advice you wish you could give to the younger version of yourself when you were just starting your coaching career?
A: As you go on in this business, you gain not only knowledge but you gain wisdom. Early on in your coaching career, you may have made some mistakes in handling players or handling situations that late in your career you would have handled so differently. I wish a lot of kids who played for me early in my career would have played for me later on. You make some mistakes and get some right and get some wrong, but the wisdom and knowledge is priceless. You wish you would have it immediately, but you don’t. If you could have the wisdom and knowledge all the way through, it would be smooth sailing. I have no regrets. I did the best I could, I went to work every day, and I just tried to do a good job for the kids of Serra.