Bob Rizzo received the West Virginia Coaches Association retired Coach Award during the AAA Final Game March 19.

Rizzo is a 1963 graduate of Concord University and received his masters degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Md. His teaching career began at Harpers Ferry High School where he taught and coached basketball, football and baseball from 1963 to 1971. His basketball teams won sectionals and went on to region playoffs.

Upon consideration of schools, he coached at Jefferson High School taking his basketball teams to state competition in its first two years of existence.

Rizzo was Region 5 director of the WVACA for over 35 years, supporting coaches in the Eastern Panhandle and throughout West Virginia.

He also coached track and rounded out his career as cross country head coach of boys and girls program.

Rizzo spent 40 years teaching and coaching in Jefferson County and is happily married to Beckley native Martha Sue Collier. The two have three children and six grandchildren.