Frackville native named to West Virginia football hall of fame
MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — A Frackville native and Cardinal Brennan graduate is now forever enshrined as one of West Virginia’s football greats.
Bill Kirelawich is considered the winningest assistant coach in Mountaineer football history and he was inducted into the West Virginia Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025.
He was a coach from 1979 through 2011 and part of 23 bowl appearances, including some of the top bowl wins and national championship appearances in WVU history.
His lines helped the Mountaineer defense lead the Big East in rushing defense and scoring defense four times. Kirelawich coached eight first-team All-Big East selections, including at least one each of the last four years and eight second-team honorees. He coached five All-Americans (Johnny Dingle, Bruce Irvin, Chris Neild, John Thornton and Henry Slay).
Kirelawich also coached numerous professional players: Todd Campbell, Johnny Dingle, Keilen Dykes, David Grant, Bruce Irvin, Pat Marlatt, Jim Merritts, Chris Neild, Henry Slay, Renaldo Turnbull and John Thornton, and recruited the likes of Anthony Becht, John Bertram, Aaron Beasley, Noel Devine, Rick Gilliam, Jake Kelchner, Irvin, Kurt Kehl, Chris Neild, Chris Parker, Lovett Purnell, Bo Orlando, Tom Robsock, Freddie Smalls, Steve Slaton, Thornton, Kevin White and Grant Wiley.
Kirelawich began his coaching career, serving as the head coach at Cardinal Brennan from 1970-78. He had nine players sign scholarships at Division I schools and his 1975 team was ranked No. 10 in Pennsylvania. Following his WVU career, he served as a defensive line coach for Rodriguez at Arizona.
Kirelawich and his wife, Maggie, have three children, Miki, Billy and Jake, and five grandchildren.
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