Upper St. Clair football coach retires
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Jim Render
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Jim Render won two state titles and five WPIAL championships during his tenure coaching Upper St. Clair’s football team. He has the most wins in WPIAL history with a 406-141-6 record.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Jim and Pam Render have been a part of the fabric of high school football since they married on July 1, 1973. After stints at Carrollton (Ohio) and Uniontown, Coach Render took the position at Upper St. Clair in 1979.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Jim Render points his players in the right direction.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Jim Render and his players accept the WPIAL trophy after beating Penn Hills, 18-12, in the 2006 Quad-A final held at Heinz Field. Upper St. Clair has won seven district championships, five of them under Render. Render has coached in six additional WPIAL finals.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Upper St. Clair won two PIAA state championships in football, the most recent in 2006 when the Panthers rolled to victory against Bethlehem Liberty, 47-13, and completed a perfect 16-0 season.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Jim Render has a discussion with an official during one of Upper St. Clair’s football games.
Eleanor Bailey
Jim Render poses with Sean Lee, who was a four-year starter at USC then went on to excel at Penn State before embarking on his NFL professional career with the Dallas Cowboys.
For 65 years, Jim Render has been going to football practice.
Come August, however, he’ll break that habit because the WPIAL legend tendered his letter of resignation as Upper St. Clair varsity football coach. School officials announced Render’s retirement on Jan. 3.
“When you have been doing something since seventh grade, sure, there’s going to be a lot of things you’ll miss,” Render said. “But what I’ll miss the most? That’s an easy answer.
“I have had great, great players and great kids. Whether they were great players or not, they have all been great kids. I have been very blessed,” Render said of serving as USC head football coach for 40 years.
During that time, he noted the school district’s program has achieved great success.
“It’s been a privilege,” he said. “And, that many young men have gone on to have outstanding collegiate careers as well as remarkable success in their chosen professions.”
Under Render’s leadership, the Panthers advanced to the WPIAL playoffs 38 times. They captured 23 conference titles, five WPIAL championships and two PIAA crowns. Render’s teams also participated in six additional WPIAL finals. While some of his players have played professionally – for example Sean Lee for the Dallas Cowboys and Kevin Orie for the Chicago Cubs – most received outstanding degrees from Ivy League schools or other exceptional universities.
Render noted that is just as memorable to him as beating the Kerry Collins quarterbacked team from Wilson in the 1989 state final or Bethlehem Liberty, 47-13, in the 2006 PIAA championship in Hershey.
“I don’t know if there is one moment that is most memorable,” he said. “It’s more like the fact I could name you wonderful players and people from every team that I have had that have gone on to be doctors, lawyers, financial wizards. Just general successes in life,” he added.
During his 76 years, Render, himself has experienced overwhelming success. The first and only WPIAL football coach to reach 400 victories-he compiled a 406-141-6 career record-he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. In addition, he was recognized with the Lou Holtz Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.
Most recently, he was nominated by the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2018 Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award, which honors scholastic coaches that display the integrity, achievement, and leadership exemplified by the winningest coach in NFL history, Don Shula.
Each nominated coach will receive a trip to the Pro Bowl to be held Jan. 27 in Orlando and attend the game. From the poll of nominees, a blue-ribbon panel will select two finalists who will then travel to Atlanta and attend an all-expense paid trip to Super Bowl LIII.
Amazingly, that’s something Render has never done.
“I have not been to a Super Bowl. I wish, though, I would have gone when the Steelers player their first one but back then the game was played closer to the holidays and that’s always been a busy time,” said Render.
These days it is an even busier time as Render and his wife, Pam, are grandparents. Render had two sons, J.T. and Eric, both of whom played for him.
Render’s kin, however, extends beyond his immediate family and well into the community. When the announcement of his retirement was made, school officials rallied to praise his commitment to the program.
“Coach Render has built a highly successful high school football program here in Upper St. Clair – winning numerous titles and accolades,” Dr. John T. Rozzo, superintendent of schools, said. “We are grateful for his many years of service to the District.”
“Coach Render has had a great impact on our football program and on the Upper St. Clair community over the years,” added Amy Billerbeck, school board president. “We commend Jim on his achievements and wish him all the best in his retirement.”
In retirement, Render has plenty of options. He can now take that trip to the Amalfi Coast he once promised his wife, pay his respects at Pearl Harbor, take a chance on a horse or two at Saratoga or Del Mar race tracks or perhaps attend another Rose Bowl.
“There are a lot of things out there than first and 10,” he said. “Maybe I will find one.”
Render, though, has found peace with himself and his career. He is leaving the game his way unlike some of his cherished role models like Woody Hayes who coached the Buckeyes and Chuck Noll, who lived right down the street from Render’s Carrollton High School, or even his friend Joe Paterno.
“I have had a pretty good relationship with Joe. His plusses are greater than any of his negatives in life. I also grew up in Ohio so I got to know Woody and Chuck, too. Woody and Joe did not get to go on their own terms.
“That’s another reason for my retirement. I wanted to leave on my terms. I factored in and weighed a lot of things and I think after 55 years overall, 40 of them here at USC, it was time for me to walk out and see what else is out there in the world.”
Sept. 11, 1970
Records first scholastic victory when Carrollton, Ohio defeated East Palestine, 12-7,
Sept. 8, 1972
After two seasons with the Warriors, posts first win in as Uniontown head coach. The Raiders blanked Keystone Oaks, 8-0, and snapped a 19-game losing streak.
July 1, 1973
Weds Pam Churico, whom he met at the Carroll (Ohio) County Fair. The couple had two sons, J.T. and Eric.
Sept. 7, 1979
After losing his first game at the helm, picks up first win at Upper St. Clair as Panthers edge Central Catholic, 7-6.
Nov. 25, 1988
Wins first of five WPIAL championships when the Panthers shut out Central Catholic, 7-0, at Three Rivers Stadium. While the win qualified USC for the PIAA playoffs, the school declined to participate in the state’s first tournament.
Nov. 25, 1989
Wins second straight WPIAL Quad-A title when Panthers whip North Hills, 38-14.
Dec. 9, 1989
Though Kerry Collins was the opposing quarterback, beats Wilson, 12-7, at Hersheypark Stadium for first PIAA championship.
Nov. 28, 1992
Defeats North Allegheny, 10-7, at Three Rivers Stadium for third WPIAL title.
Nov. 22, 1997
A missed extra point with 18 seconds remaining in regulation affords a slim victory over Penn-Trafford, 28-27, at Three Rivers Stadium for fourth WPIAL crown.
Oct. 28, 2005
Joins the 300-win club with a 48-0 victory against Baldwin in a first-round playoff game.
Nov. 24, 2006
Earns fifth WPIAL title as Dane Conwell rushes for a 10-yard touchdown with 58 seconds left to seal USC’s 18-12 victory against Penn Hills at Heinz Field.
Dec. 16, 2006
Wins second state championship when Conwell rushes for five scores and 169 yards and the Panthers crush Bethlehem Liberty, 47-13, in the PIAA Quad-A final in Hershey
Aug. 31, 2018
Records 400th career victory when Panthers hang on to beat Peters Township, 16-14, after mounting a 16-0 first-half advantage.
Oct. 19, 2018
Registers his final victory as USC head coach when the Panthers defeat Chartiers Valley, 38-31, in Allegheny Eight Conference play. USC finished 8-3 after losing to McKeesport, 13-7, in the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs.
Jan. 3, 2019
Retires after 40 years at the helm as Panthers’ head coach.