Dave DiRienzo

Dave DiRienzo came to Poland High School in 1975 as a teacher and coach. His first coaching assignments included 8th-grade basketball and serving as an assistant football coach from 1975–1985 and again from 1990–1995. During those years, Poland won MVCC Championships, MAC Championships, and advanced to the Ohio State Playoffs.

Dave served as an assistant track coach in 1978 and 1979, helping Poland win the MVAC Championship in both seasons. He became head track coach in 1980, a position he held through 2001. In 1988, he also became the head cross country coach. In 1998, his cross country team won the MAC Championship, captured the Suburban League Championship, and finished 4th in the Ohio State Championships.

As head track coach, his teams won MVCC Championships in 1980 and 1985, MAC Championships in 1996, 1999, and 2000, and in 2000 the team won the District Championship before becoming Ohio State Champions.

DiRienzo was named MVCCA Coach of the Year in 1980, 1999, and 2000, and was also selected as the OATCCC District Coach of the Year in 2000.

A graduate of Fitch High School (1970), Dave starred in football and track & field, earning All-Steel Valley End honors. He graduated from Youngstown State University (YSU) with a B.A. in History and later earned a Master of Science in Education.