Jul 18, 2024 3 min read

By Bill Hughes

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

The Charleroi Area School District has turned to a familiar face to take over as its athletic director.

Bruno Pappasergi, a retired teacher in the district and an successful head baseball coach at Charleroi, was hired Tuesday night.

“It is an exciting time and there is a lot of time involved (with the position),” said Pappasergi, who started his coaching career in 1976 as an assistant boys basketball coach under the late Phil Pergola at Mon Valley Catholic. “Charleroi is a school I love, and it is a part of me.”

His experience and familiarity stood out to Dr. Ed Zelich, Charleroi’s superintendent.

“Mr. Pappasergi brings a wealth of experience and a deep-rooted commitment to our community, making him the ideal candidate to lead our athletic programs into a new era of excellence,” Zelich said. “He has demonstrated a profound dedication to the growth and success of our students, both in the classroom and in athletics. We are confident that Bruno’s leadership will thrive in our athletic programs.”

When Pergola left Mon Valley Catholic to take the boys basketball coaching job at Charleroi, Pappasergi also made the move and continued to learn the ropes under a pair of athletic directors in Lee Hall and later Bill Wiltz.

“I was kind of a volunteer assistant with Lee Hall and Billy,” said Pappasergi, a Donora native. “I learned a lot from both of them in how to run an athletic department.

“Back then, it was all paperwork, and now it is more computerized. It will be on-the-job training,” he added.

Other coaching experiences for Pappasergi include a three-year stint as the California High School boys basketball head coach and an assistant to Pergola at Ringgold.

When Pappasergi was approached about the athletic director position, he was at first hesitant because he was an assistant basketball coach at South Park, where his son Chad is the head coach.

“It could have been a conflict of interest between the two schools,” Pappasergi explained. “But when (Charleroi and South Park) were put into different sections, it alleviated that fear. I got the blessing from South Park, it works out well for both schools, and we made it happen.”

South Park athletic director Pat Colligan and Waynesburg’s Chris Minerd have helped Pappasergi get ready.

“Pat has helped me along the way in a lot of the steps,” said Pappaesrgi. “Chris has talked me through things as well.”

Pappasergi added that it would take forever to thank everyone who has helped him along the way.

“I have had the opportunity to work with a lot of good people, and they know who they are,” he said. “I have taken a little bit from a lot of them.”