(This is the fifth in a series on the 2006 inductees into the Lawrence County Historical Society Sports Hall of Fame.)
BY JOHN D'ABRUZZO JD'ABRUZZO@NCNEWSONLINE.COM
To say Jan Budai has a passion for sports in an understatement. One of 13 inductees into this year's Lawrence County Historical Society Sports Hall of Fame, Budai thrived as a three-sport athlete during his high school days at Shenango High before staring as a quarterback at Westminster College. And now, he continues his adoration of sports by coaching the Wildcats' baseball team. "I'm very humbled," Budai said. "To think of all the other people who have the honor of being selected and it's quite a select group of people your among. "We have some very good athletes who have come through this area. You can see who has come through here, and I can still see in the youth that there's a lot to come." A nine-time letter winner, earning three apiece in football, basketball and baseball at Shenango, Budai received first team all-section honors in both hoops and baseball during his junior and senior seasons. "I tried to do whatever I could do," Budai said. "Any time there was a sport that was in season I just wanted to play it. Today kids have so many other things going in their lives, but I came from a very sports-minded family and my father and brothers were all sportsmen. I just took after them." After graduating from Shenango in 1973, Budai continued his athletic career on the gridiron at Westminster. A 2000 inductee into the Titan Hall of Fame, Budai quarterbacked Westminster to an NAIA National Championship in 1976. An all-conference first team member and honorable mention All-American, Budai was voted MVP of both semifinal and championship games en route to the Titans' title. "He was a superior athlete," said Frank Bongivengo, Budai's football coach at Shenango. "He could do about anything. As a quarterback he was incredible. He was so versatile, throwing a great ball or running with it. He just made everything work. "He was the type of player you could always rely on because he never gave less than 100 percent." Once his football career ended, Budai decided to coach. "I've had some good coaches along my career in both high school and college," Budai said. "I just wanted to try to give something back to the kids the way my coaches gave to me. "That was a way for me to compete, too. You're done playing the sport, but to give something back is something I always wanted to do." Budai served under Bongivengo as an assistant football coach at Shenango for 23 years, and he credits Bongivengo for being his inspiration in becoming a coach. "Frank is just my main guy," said Budai, who is in his 22nd season as the Wildcats' baseball coach. "He's the one who gave me everything. He gave me the start and the attitude that you have to have as a coach." Budai, who accumulated a 233-156 record prior to this baseball season, has won seven section titles and finished as a WPIAL runner-up twice. His competitive edge as a player has streamed into his coaching style. "As a coach, the kids never win or lose a game. It's on the coach," Budai explained. "That's the way I still feel after coaching for 20-some years. No kid loses a game. If there's something we need to do better or something we have to try to do differently, then that's what we have to do." Budai also serves as a basketball official in Lawrence County and has worked a handful of Class A and Class AA WPIAL championship games. The experience of being on the other end of the whistle has also molded his attitude when he's on the bench. "I know what it's like to be on the receiving end," Budai said. "I'll argue a call here or there, but I know when to stop. I know what my guidelines are." TOMORROW: Mike Hambrick
Sports
Budai's passion continues into coaching
- Sports
-
-
PIAA Track Championships: Wilmington's Yohman wins discus gold
Wilmington High track and field standout Jon Yohman turned in a golden effort Saturday. Yohman claimed a gold medal in the discus with a toss of 177-10 in Class AA at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
-
District 10 Softball: Wilmington girls get past Titusville
The Wilmington High softball team exacted some revenge yesterday. The Lady Greyhounds scored an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh inning, claiming a 4-3 District 10, Class AA semifinal-round win over Titusville at Penn State-Behrend.
-
Photo Gallery, Story: Unbeaten Neshannock falls in WPIAL playoffs
The Neshannock High girls softball team is used to seeing a zero on the scoreboard. Just not in its own run column and especially not after seven innings. That was the case yesterday as Neshannock’s offense failed to produce any runs in a 2-0 setback to Deer Lakes in a WPIAL Class AA semifnal at North Allegheny.
-
Girard names Hannon boys basketball coach
While he doesn't have much coaching experience, 26-year-old Craig Hannon has been successful in his four years coaching basketball. The Union High and Westminster College graduate steps in as the new boys coach at Girard (Ohio) High, replacing Nolan Cubellis, who resigned after two seasons and a 16-25 record.
-
Former ’Hounds’ football stars suffers possible stroke
Former Wilmington High football star Derrick Burns was in stable condition at a Pittsburgh hospital last night after falling ill. A local church with which he is affiliated asked for prayers yesterday for the University of Pittsburgh sophomore running back after he suffered a possible mild stroke.
-
WPIAL Title Games: Dates and times set for Neshannock, Ellwood
The road to a championship goes through Consol Energy Park for the Neshannock and Ellwood City Lincoln baseball teams. The Wolverines (20-2) will square off against Riverside (18-5) at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Consol Energy Park,
-
Photo Gallery, Story: Neshannock advances to WPIAL title game
The dominance continues for the Neshannock High baseball team. The Lancers, competing in the WPIAL semifinals for the fourth straight season, advanced to their third straight district championship game yesterday.
-
Photo Gallery: Neshannock vs. OLSH in WPIAL baseball playoffs
-
District 10 Track and Field: Yohman leads Wilmington teammates to PIAA meet
Wilmington High track and field standout Jon Yohman broke through on Saturday.
Two times. Yohman, who has finished second to Hickory’s Matt Bell four times this season, made sure that didn’t happen this time. Yohman, a junior, won two gold medals for the Greyhounds at the District 10, Class AA Track and Field Championships at Hickory High School. -
District 10 Track and Field: Yohman leads Wilmington teammates to PIAA meet
Wilmington High track and field standout Jon Yohman broke through on Saturday. Two times. Yohman, who has finished second to Hickory’s Matt Bell four times this season, made sure that didn’t happen this time. Yohman, a junior, won two gold medals for the Greyhounds at the District 10, Class AA Track and Field Championships at Hickory High School.
- More Sports Headlines
-
