Sports

RMU Names Banaszak as Walton Replacement

The assistant head football coach will take over after Walton's 2013 departure.

announced Tuesday it will replace longtime football coach Joe Walton with RMU assistant head coach John Banaszak at the conclusion of the 2013 season. 

Walton signed a two-year contract extension in September to continue his nearly 20-year tenure at the university through the 2013 season. Banaszak has spent nine season with the Colonials.

Walton has been the only head coach of RMU's football program, which the university introduced in 1993. 

Find out what's happening in Robinson-Moonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Coach Walton has done a tremendous job starting the program from scratch and developing it to its current level," RMU athletic director Craig Coleman said. "We are blessed to have another outstanding coach on our staff in coach Banaszak to provide leadership and excellence when Walton retires." 

Banaszak, a 1975 graduate of Eastern Michigan University, signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a free agent in 1975. He was a special teams player on Pittsburgh's Super Bowl X championship team, and between 1978 and 1980 he started in 45 regular-season games as a defensive end as Pittsburgh won back-to-back Super Bowl championships. 

Find out what's happening in Robinson-Moonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Banaszak has been assistant head coach for four years at RMU. His responsibilities include working with the defensive line and special teams unit, according to the university. 

Prior to his career at RMU, Banaszak was head coach of Washington & Jefferson University from 1999 to 2002, where he was the Presidents' Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for each of his four campaigns. 

Banaszak and his wife live in Peters with his wife. He has three children and five grandchildren. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here