Blase Iorio
Blase Iorio is a former Hickory High multi-sport star who went on to a superb career as an assistant football coach at Sharpsville High.
At Hickory from 1964-68, he played 4 years in football and two years in basketball and track. In football, he was a 3-year letterman and named to the All-County team in 1966-67.
During that time from 1964-68, he played on the Hickory American Legion baseball team and made the All-Star team all of those years.
He went to Slippery Rock University, where he was a star baseball player for four years. In 1971 and ‘72, Blase was named to the Tri-State College Coaches Association All-Star Team. In 1972, he served as team captain at The Rock and led the squad in six offensive categories.
He played football for two years, before being injured and concentrating on baseball.
After college he was a standout in independent baseball and softball. He played with the Fabulous Goldstein’s baseball team in the Youngstown Class B League from 1973-75 and played in the Shenango Valley Slo-Pitch Softball League from 1976-86 where he was league MVP in 1978 and part of many league title teams with Pepsi-Cola.
He served as Sharpsville High assistant football coach to head coach Paul Piccirilli for many years, during which the Blue Devils won a state championship, numerous District 10 titles and Mercer County Athletic Conference crowns. He was a member of the West Penn Coaches Association.
He coached Sharpsville Little League from 1990-2000 and served on the board of directors. He has been a member of the Sharpsville Booster Club and helped in club activities and fundraising. He was a volunteer for the Mercer County Challenger League and Special Olympics.
He was founder of Prime Time Prep Players, a college recruiting consultant group.