Former Bethel Park football coach passes away
Bob King (center) is pictured with four of his players that earned football scholarships. From left are: Eric Coss (Temple), Larry Miles (University of Maryland), Shawn Morton (University of Cincinnati) and Steve Berlin (Clemson). King coached six seasons of football at Bethel Park High School, compiling a 36-29-1 record with three playoff appearances from 1980-1985.
Bob King
Bob King was a mentor to football players. The former Bethel Park High School coach was also a friend to many.
Shawn Morton was fortunate to have been both.
During his first year as a head coach in 1980, King guided the Black Hawks to the WPIAL championship final with Morton as his star quarterback. King later invited Morton to join the coaching staff at Washington & Jefferson where he once served as an assistant to John Luckhardt.
“Bob asked me if I can get certified in math because he said, ‘we need math teachers down here.’ He wanted me to come down there and coach,” said Morton, who earned his teaching certification in physical education from Slippery Rock University.
“Believe me, a head coach’s temperament is a lot different than an assistant coach. Bob was having fun,” said Morton, who is retiring from 30 years of teaching at Upper St. Clair at the end of the school year. “I really enjoyed that year working with him as an assistant. I was lucky to have had him both as my coach and as my friend.”
On April 29, 2023, the Bethel Park football family as well as many others lost their buddy when Robert “Bob” J. King passed away peacefully after a short illness. King was 81 and lived in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Born Feb. 17, 1942 to Ruth and William King, he developed a passion for education and football in Charleroi, from where he graduated high school. He received a B.S. from California State University and an M.S. from SUNY-Potsdam. He coached football in both New York and Pennsylvania at the high school and collegiate levels.
At Bethel Park High School, he coached for six seasons, compiling a 36-29-1 record with three playoff appearances from 1980-1985.
In 1980, he was honored as the Pittsburgh Press Coach of the Year. King also had the distinction of coaching in the 1981 Pennsylvania Big 33 Classic. Both accolades came as a result of leading Bethel Park to the WPIAL championship final.
That 1980 season ranks among one of the finest in BP football history. The Black Hawks beat Upper St. Clair in the final regular season game to clinch a playoff spot. In what is considered one of the greatest game in WPIAL history, the Black Hawks then knocked off North Hills, 33-27, in four overtimes. In the semifinals, BP upset a talented Gateway team putting the Black Hawks in the title game against conference champion Mt. Lebanon. The Blue Devils beat the Black Hawks for the Class 4A title, and BP finished 9-4 overall.
“That playoff run simply is the fondest memory I have of Bob. He was on cloud nine. A first-year coach with a no-name staff,” Morton said. “He practically had to do everything himself.”
Morton explained that before King arrived the Black Hawks were coached by Tom Urbanik. Because of a bitter teacher’s strike, Urbanik, an administrator at the time, coached the team by himself because his assistants, most of whom were teachers, would not cross the picket line.
”When Tom resigned, Bob took over but he did not make many friends as first because he made it clear that he would cross the line. He did not have the BP coaches under Tom. He had to find other guys. So he put in the time and effort in the offseason, in the season and all the preparation.
”As seniors,” Morton continued, “we just gelled together.”
King singled out no favorites, even though Morton and Larry Miles, set the passing standards as quarterback and wide receiver during that stunning season and earned all-district acclaim.
”Nobody was above getting chewed out, even me,” Morton said. “Believe me, sometimes I deserved it. Bob was not the coddling type. We won. So it worked.”
King developed a deep friendship with the Morton family. Morton’s father, Cliff, was the mayor and his older brother, Mitch, played for the Black Hawks. Often they formed a foursome for rounds of golf during the summer.
”Even though we had that relationship as a player, after the season and typically in August before camp we’d play 18 holes,” Morton said. “Bob said, ‘I always enjoyed playing with you because this last outing of the summer means that football is around the corner.’ He was so happy coaching.”
After his stint at Bethel Park, King went on to coach in Florida before coming back and joining the W&J staff.
”We kept in contact for a number of years,” Morton said. “He was a great guy. People who knew him outside of playing football, knew him to be fun to be around. I was saddened to hear he passed.”
After retiring from teaching, King moved from the gridiron to the golf course. He played as often as possible. He belonged to the Youghiogheny Country Club in McKeesport, before joining Prestwick in Myrtle Beach.
King is survived by his wife, Edie, and his children: Melinda (Robert) Murphy, Elizabeth Skvorak, and Robert Skvorak.
King, who had a brother, William, also leaves behind four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren: Meghan (Braden) Myers, Michael (Rachael) Skvorak, Matthew Murphy, Kelly Murphy, Violet Skvorak, and Lincoln Myers.
A celebration of life will be held at Prestwick from 2 to 4 p.m. June 4.
Donations to First Tee can be made in his memory. Visit: firsttee.org/donate for details.