University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt Basketball Alum & Local Coaching Legend Bill Shay Passes Away
10/11/2024 5:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PITTSBURGH – Pitt basketball alum and local coaching legend Bill Shay passed away Friday, Oct. 11. The winningest basketball coach in Western Pennsylvania history, Shay coached over 400 over nearly four decades at the Community College of Allegheny County from 1969-2009.
Shay was a member of the Pitt basketball team from 1957-61 helping the team to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1958. He appeared in 33 games as a Panther before going on to a remarkable coaching career. In 39 seasons at CCAC, Shay posted a career record was 803-358, while also teaching physical education and additional classes.
As a physical education teacher, Shay held early morning workouts for students and ran a tight practice schedule. All of Shay's practices started on time and ended on time so that the Pittsburgh Steelwheelers could practice. Shay helped organize the Pittsburgh Steelwheelers, a paraplegic wheelchair basketball team in 1977.
He also was director of physical education at the Sarah Heinz House on Pittsburgh's North Side.
