Ex-Steeler Banaszak To Coach W&J

John Banaszak, a defensive lineman on three of the Pittsburgh Steelers' four Super Bowl championship teams, was hired Monday as football coach at Washington & Jefferson.

Banaszak replaces John Luckhardt, who retired last month with a 136-37-2 record and 12 Presidents' Athletic Conference championships since 1982.

Luckhardt twice led the Presidents to the Amos Alonzo Stagg national championship game. Luckhardt, who did not coach in 1997 because of health reasons, will remain at W&J as athletic director and director of development for special projects.

Banaszak, who played for the Steelers from 1975-82, has been W&J's defensive coordinator for four seasons and an assistant at the school for six years. He also is the baseball coach.

Banaszak started 45 consecutive games as a Steelers defensive end and had two sacks, a fumble recovery and six tackles in their Super Bowl victory over the Dallas Cowboys in 1979. He had a sack and five tackles a year later when the Steelers beat the Los Angeles Rams to win their fourth Super Bowl in six years.

He played three seasons in the USFL with the Michigan Panthers and Memphis Showboats after leaving.

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