Luby DiMeolo

Luby DiMeolo
Date of birth(1903-10-27)October 27, 1903
Place of birthYoungstown, Ohio, U.S.
Date of deathJune 17, 1966(1966-06-17) (aged 62)
Place of deathPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Career information
Position(s)Head coach
US collegePittsburgh
High schoolBellefonte Academy
Career history
As coach
1930–1933NYU (assistant)
1934Pittsburgh Pirates
1935Westminster (PA) (assistant)
1937Carnegie Tech (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
Career stats
Military career
AllegianceUnited States United States
Service / branchUnited States Navy seal U.S. Navy
Rank Lt. Commander
Battles / warsWorld War II

Albert A. "Luby" DiMeolo (October 27, 1903 – June 17, 1966) was an American football player and coach. He was the second ever head coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates (later renamed the Steelers) of the National Football League. He coached the Pirates during their second season of 1934. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio, but lived nearly his entire life in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, just west of Pittsburgh.[1]

DiMeolo was a guard and captain on the 1929 University of Pittsburgh team that was undefeated before losing in the 1930 Rose Bowl to USC.[2] Upon graduating from Pittsburgh, DiMeolo served as offensive line coach at New York University under head coach Chick Meehan and later Howard Cann.[3]

When the Pittsburgh Pirates joined the NFL in 1933, DiMeolo was rumored to be the leading candidate to become the team's initial player-coach.[4] He was passed over for the job in favor of Jap Douds, who lasted just a single season as the team's coach. DiMeolo replaced Douds for the team's second season. He led the Pirates to a disappointing 2–10 record in his first season, after which he was dismissed.

After leaving the Pirates, DiMeolo returned to the college ranks as an assistant coach at Westminster College (Pennsylvania) and later at Carnegie Tech.[1] He joined the navy during World War II and served as a physical instructor, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander.[1]

After leaving the navy, DiMeolo worked in the Pennsylvania state Department of Commerce, before losing his position due to a change in the political party running the government. He was shortly thereafter named a U.S. Marshal for western Pennsylvania.[5] He served as Marshal until 1961, after which he worked for U.S. Steel.

DiMeolo was married to Amelia Ann Sciliano; the couple had no children. He died at the age of 62 of a heart attack which occurred shortly after he had completed a game of squash in 1966.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Heart Attack Kills DiMeolo at Age 63". Pittsburgh Press. June 18, 1966. p. 13. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
  2. ^ "Crack Pitt Eleven Needs Rebuilding". Miami Daily News. Associated Press. December 7, 1929. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
  3. ^ Sell, Jack (March 9, 1939). "Dimeolo Latest Candidate for Pitt Coaching Position". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 20. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
  4. ^ Biederman, Lester (April 24, 1933). "Luby Dimeolo May Coach Pittsburgh Pros". Pittsburgh Press. p. 24. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
  5. ^ "DiMeolo Gets Appointment as Marshal". Pittsburgh Press. November 10, 1955. p. 45. Retrieved May 12, 2011.