Charlie Turco

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Charlie is a 1968 graduate and a three-sport athlete at Pittston Area High School. During his high school career, he received twelve varsity letters. In basketball, Charlie was a 1000 point scorer; in football, he led his team to the school’s only undefeated season and an Eastern Conference championship. In baseball, he led the region in hitting and ERA in pitching. All three sports were undefeated and league champions: Charlie was captain for all three teams; he was All-Scholastic in football, basketball and baseball. He was Player of the Year in football and baseball. He played in the All-State, Big 33, football game in Hershey. He was also picked to play in the American Legion State All-State game at Veterans Stadium. Charlie was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 1968, but decided to play college football instead. He attended the University of North Carolina on a football scholarship and also played baseball there. He started on the freshman team in 1968, and as a sophomore started against Wake Forest. Four knee operations curtailed his football and baseball careers. However, Charles did get to play in the 1971 Gator Bowl against Georgia. In 1972, Charles accepted a teaching and coaching position at Pittston Area High School. Charlie coached baseball for eight years and was the assistant football coach under “Hall-of-Famer” Bob Barbieri for eight years. In 1979, he was named the athletic director, a position he currently holds. Charlie is married to the former Linda Troiani, and has three children, Leslie, Marla and Chas.