Photo by Cody Tomer Steubenville coach Reno Saccoccia, left, former Martins Ferry coach Dave Bruney, center, and Wheeling Central coach and OVFCA Vice President Mike Young enjoy a moment on Sunday.
STEUBENVILLE — Any successful coach will say the same thing — their achievements couldn’t be possible without being surrounded by great people and support in their lives.
Former Martins Ferry football coach Dave Bruney and current Steubenville football coach Reno Saccoccia echoed those statements on Sunday at the 42nd Annual All-Conference Awards Dinner to honor the OVAC football stars at Steubenville High School.
Bruney was honored as the 2021 Ohio Valley Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee, while Saccoccia was recognized for reaching the 400-win plateau this past season.
In 40 years of coaching and 39 of those years coming at Martins Ferry, Bruney generated a record of 284-135, which stands among the top 20 in Ohio High School Athletic Association history. He also led the Purple Riders to four undefeated regular seasons.
“I’m fortunate enough to be inducted into the Ohio Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the OVAC Hall of Fame,” Bruney said. “I think for me, the guys I grew up playing against and coaching against made a big difference. Pete Barron was a great role model for me at Martins Ferry in 1967 and then Larry Coyer came in 1968. I got to play for Bill Hess at Ohio University and he was a terrific man and coach.
“I’ve been around people all my life and all I had to do was pay attention. I knew early on what I wanted to do and it was a super experience to be around all of those people because you certainly stand on the shoulders of those you surround yourself with and grow up with.”
Bruney touched on the fact that he was in attendance for the First Annual All-Conference Awards Dinner and he also spoke to the high school players on hand and gave them great advice about living in the moment.
“It’s a super feeling to be here. I was at the first one of these in 1981 but I can still close my eyes and see it now,” Bruney said. “We were over at the Wellsburg Fire Hall with Paul Billiard.
“Sometimes when you are young you don’t realize that you should take time to smell the roses once in a while.”
Although he does get the itch to get back on the sidelines every once in a while, Bruney enjoys helping and watching his son, Zac, coach Wheeling University’s football team.
“I am extremely humbled and proud,” Bruney said. “I’m helping my son a little bit at Wheeling University. I do miss coaching but I had some things go on that took some of my energy away and I didn’t want to coach walking around with my hands in my pockets. I’ve never done it that way. It was the right time to go.”
As for Saccoccia, it was simply an honor to be recognized next to the legendary Bruney.
“One of the saddest days of my life was when he quit,” Saccoccia said of Bruney.
After taking the head coaching job of Big Red in 1983, Saccoccia didn’t need much time to rack up 400 victories. He is only the second coach in Ohio high school football history to reach the milestone.
Despite the extremely impressive feat, he still credits everyone he surrounds himself with on an everyday-basis.
“It just means I’ve been here a long time with great coaches, great players and great family,” Saccoccia said. “If any of those ingredients are missing, it’s like garlic being out of the sauce. We have a great community and it takes a lot of people to be successful. I’m just glad to be a small part of it.”