Former Pitt three-sport star and Donora legend Lou “Bimbo” Cecconi died this past Friday at the age of 95.
Cecconi was born Oct. 13, 1928, in Donora, Pa. He attended Donora High School, which merged with Monongahela High School to create the Ringgold School District, and excelled in a number of sports there, including football, basketball, track and field and baseball.
He helped Donora win back-to-back WPIAL titles in football in 1944 and 1945 as a junior and senior, a WPIAL Gold in 1945 for basketball, and along with him playing for the baseball and track and field teams, he earned 11 out of a potential 12 letters in four years.
Football was where he excelled at and played with some incredible players at Donora. This includes quarterback Arnold Galiffa, who would go on to play for Army, earning enshrinement into the College Football Hall of Fame, and professionally in the 1950s. It also features halfback Dan “Deacon” Towler, who starred for Washington and Jefferson and then in the NFL, with four Pro Bowl appearances and led the league in rushing touchdowns twice in 1952 and 1954.
Cecconi, who shined on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, then attended Pitt, where he played football and basketball for four seasons and baseball for one season. He is one of just three Pitt athletes to win nine varsity letters.
Despite only standing at 5-foot-8, Cecconi played a number of positions for Pitt football. He led the team in rushing from 1947-49, passing in 1948 and 1949, receiving in 1947, interceptions in 1948 and scoring in 1946 and 1947. He also served as captain in 1949.
His best game of his collegiate career came against rival Penn State in 1949, setting a program record of three interceptions against opposing quarterback Owen Daughtery, while also throwing for a touchdown and rushing for two scores as well in a 19-0 win at Pitt Stadium.
Cecconi also played in 75 games for Pitt basketball, shooting 44.4% from the field, 55.5% from the foul line and averaged 5.2 points per game.
The San Francisco 49ers drafted him in the 1950 NFL Draft but released him. He would return to Donora to start teaching, before the U.S. drafted him into military service, sending him to Germany from 1951-53.
He would come back to Pitt as an assistant from 1958-65 and also as offensive coordinator from 1969-72. His best game as a coach was against rival West Virginia in 1970, where he led Pitt back from a 35-8 deficit, running 97 plays to WVU’s 13 to win 36-35. He also recruited the legendary Tony Dorsett to the program before he left.
Cecconi coached all sports in the Sharpsburg School District from 1953-58 and then at Steel Valley for one year before he served as an administrator until he retired in the 1990s. He also spent time as an offensive coordinator at Indiana State from 1966-68,
He is a member of numerous Hall of Fames, including the WPIAL, Pennsylvania Sports, National Italian American Sports, Mid Mon Valley and Western Chapter. Pitt also has his name on their varsity walk.
A True PITT Guy. Rest With GOD “Bimbo”
Met Mr. Cecconi entering a Pitt football game around 2018. Said I remembered him from my undergraduate days, he was happy that he was recognized. We parted both a little bit better for the encounter.
I was a freshman in the Pitt band that fateful day in October 1970. A memory for always.
Bimbo coached one of my best pals at work when he was in high school. He had nothing but good memories about him. I never had the privilege of meeting him, sadly. Rest in Peace Bimbo and Hail to Pitt !