Joe Skladany

Category

Larksville

Joe Skladany was one of the best football players to come out of the coal regions. Skladany started his career by winning all-scholastic honors at Larksville High School in 1928 and 1929. He went on to play at the University of Pittsburgh under Coach Jock Sutherland. Pittsburgh sports writers called Skladany the “Baby-Faced Assassin” as he helped Pitt to Eastern championships in 1931 and 1932 and helped the Panthers earn a Rose Bowl berth against USC. Skladany was an All-American in 1932 and 1933. In 1933, he was also named to the Liberty Magazine All-Players All-American team. Over 1,500 players from 91 colleges voted for the team. In 1934, he played professional football and scouted for Washington and Pittsburgh. He later served as an assistant football coach at Pittsburgh, Carnegie Tech and the U.S. Naval Academy. In 1968, Skladany was named by the Pittsburgh Press to the all-time Pitt team from 1910-1968. Skladany died Aug. 9, 1972.