Lou Falconi
Lou Falconi established himself at Farrell High School as one of the greatest high school football coaches in Mercer County history.
Before his retirement after the 2006 season, Lou posted a phenomenal 27-year overall record of 210-91-6. He became the only coach in Mercer County to win two state championships, when his Steelers won PIAA Class A titles in 1995 and 1996. His 1990 team lost in the finals.
His teams also won 4 WPIAL championships (1986, 1990, 1995, 1996) and finished runner-up in 1988. His 1985 Steelers won the District 10 Class A crown. Lou's clubs also won 9 conference titles and made 18 playoff appearances.
He was named conference "Coach of the Year" 8 times and was honored as Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coach of the Year 3 times (1986, 1995 and 1996). He received 3 Pittsburgh Curbstone Coaches Awards and two Nike Coach of the Year Clinic Awards.
He was National Italian-American Hall of Fame (Pittsburgh Chapter) Coach of the Year in 1996 and was named Coach of the Year by the West Penn Football Coaches Association 5 times. He was inducted into the Pennsylvania High School Football Hall of Fame in 2007.
Lou was a two-year letter winner in football and track at Farrell before graduating in 1965. He went on to become a two-year letterman in football at Edinboro University. He also shined in baseball, playing in the Babe Ruth League for three years and the Valley Varsity League for three years.
He served as assistant football coach at Farrell from 1973-79 before becoming head coach in 1980. He also served as head and assistant coach in track for many years in the 1980s and '90s. During his career, he was instrumental in returning night football to Farrell in 1981 and helped establish Homecoming festivities to the school the same year.
A Farrell City councilman since 1976, he serves as chairman of the Farrell Recreation Commission.