Legendary Pitt Assistant Coach/Recruiter Retires
A mainstay of the Pitt Panther tradition and organization has officially retired after 54 years of football coaching.
Bob Junko started his coaching arc with Tulsa and TCU before arriving at Pitt in 1982. He was the team's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for three years.
In 1997, He returned to the Panthers after jobs at Akron and Kent State. Junko played a vital role in both coaching and recruiting. As a recruiter, he was able to reel in the following notable players.
- Chris Doleman - NFL Hall of Fame
- Steve Largent (Tulsa) - NFL Hall of Fame
- Jason Taylor (Akron) - NFL Hall of Fame
- Darrelle Revis - 4x NFL All-Pro
- Larry Fitzgerald - 11x NFL Pro Bowler
- Aaron Donald - 7x NFL All-Pro
Former Pitt All-American tight end Dorin Dickerson remembers vividly how hard Junko recruited him.
“Throughout the two years he recruited me in high school (West Allegheny), I probably saw him 15-20 times. Every time I saw him, he gave me his business card.”*
While he was able to sway the decisions of many outstanding players to join the Pitt program, he is most proud of a simple phrase that players said to him each day around the facilities.
“What’s up, Junk?” Those three words, according to current head coach Pat Narduzzi are monumental to Junko:
“He loved that. He’s impacted every one of our players. Everybody’s who’s here coach Junko has touched.”*
This past Friday, the 75-year-old stated that it was time to go. With 8 grandchildren and most family in the area, he stated that he wants to spend more time with them.
However, after 30 years with the Pitt program coach doesn't feel that he has worked a day.
“It wasn’t work. It was a passion I really enjoyed," Junko told Trib Live's Jerry Dipaola. "I couldn’t help being loud-mouth coach. I was enjoying it, and I wanted everyone else to enjoy it.”
Above all, he is thankful for the legacies and impact he has seen in players' lives, not just as football players but also as human beings.
“The players were the most important. The ones who were great ones and the ones who were down the road but kept fighting and accomplished a lot on limited ability. Very proud of those guys."*
With that being said, Junk had one last hurrah with the team.
His final words with the team should echo with all of us, and he is someone that has had a legendary impact on the Panthers program.
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