Yannessa calls it quits

One of the winningest high school football coaches in WPIAL football history has retired.

Ambridge's Don Yannessa coached his final game Wednesday night when the Bridgers defeated South Park, 42-20. It was a happy ending for what had been a tough season for Yannessa. Ambridge finished with a 2-8 record.

Yannessa coached 37 seasons at three different schools and won 249 games, which is eighth-best in WPIAL history. He coached Aliquippa from 1972 through 1988 and won four WPIAL titles there. He coached Baldwin from 1989 through 2002, and Ambridge the past six seasons.

"It was time," said the 68-year-old Yannessa. "Everybody has to make this decision for themselves at some point.

"I know I'm going to miss it, especially the relationship with the kids, the guys I coach with and just the challenge. But in the other sense, there are things I'm not going to miss."