Bob Junko - Football Coach - Pitt Panthers #H2P

Bob Junko

Title:
Director of Football Relations & Program Enhancement
Season at Pitt:
29th
Phone:
412-648-8700
Email:
bjunko@athletics.pitt.edu

Widely known and respected throughout the tri-state area, Bob Junko has spent nearly 30 years representing the Pitt football program in many important capacities on and off the field.

After 38 years in the coaching ranks, Junko moved to the administrative side of college football in 2007. Serving as Pitt’s director of player development and high school relations since 2013, Junko's tremendous football acumen and contacts are invaluable for the Panthers.

A past honoree on the Rivals Top 25 Recruiters list, Junko is especially instrumental with Pitt’s annual recruiting efforts and alumni outreach programs.

The 2021 season marks the 25th of Junko’s second tour with the Panthers. He initially coached at Pitt from 1982-85, serving as defensive coordinator under head coach Foge Fazio. Junko returned in 1997 as defensive tackles coach under Walt Harris and also served the program as assistant head coach.

In his first stint with the Panthers, the 1982 team received a Cotton Bowl bid and finished ninth in the country. The 1983 Panthers earned a Fiesta Bowl berth and ranked 19th in the final polls.

Among the standouts on those defenses were tackle Bill Maas, defensive end Chris Doleman and defensive backs Tim Lewis and Tom Flynn, all of whom went on to careers in the NFL. Doleman was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012.

Junko's Pitt tenure has been accomplished as well as lengthy. In total, he has been part of 19 bowl teams and worked with 15 first team All-Americans.

Prior to returning to Pittsburgh, Junko was the defensive coordinator at Kent State from 1995-96. Junko also served as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator for seven years at Akron (1988-94). He held similar positions at Northwestern, TCU and Tulsa, his alma mater.

As a collegian, Junko starred at Tulsa as an inside linebacker and was an Honorable Mention All-American in 1967. He was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference team twice and served as Tulsa’s captain.

Junko earned a bachelor’s degree in history education in 1968 and his master’s in educational administration in 1970 at Tulsa. He has been inducted into the University of Tulsa Sports Hall of Fame, Trinity High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Washington-Greene County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

In 2015, Junko was named an Honorary Letterwinner by the Pitt Varsity Letter Club.

Junko’s wife’s name is Judy. Their family includes sons Jay and his wife Kim, Jeff and his wife Meredith, and Mike and his wife Mistydae. Bob and Judy have eight grandchildren: Ryan, Joshua, Caleb, Bryn, Ethan, Lila Rose, Owen and Derek.

Two of Junko's grandsons are members of the Pitt football team: Joshua, a sophomore wide receiver, and Caleb, a freshman specialist.

PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: July 4, 1946
Hometown: Washington, Pa.
Alma Mater: Tulsa, 1968
Family: Junko’s wife’s name is Judy. Their family includes sons Jay and his wife Kim, Jeff and his wife Meredith, and Mike and his wife Mistydae. Bob and Judy have eight grandchildren: Ryan, Joshua, Caleb, Bryn, Ethan, Lila Rose, Owen and Derek.

EXPERIENCE
Pitt, 1997-2005, defensive tackles; 2000-2006, assistant head coach; 2006, recruiting coordinator; 2007-12, director of football relations and program enhancement; 2013-present, director of player development and high school relations.
Kent State, 1995-96, defensive coordinator and linebackers.
Akron, 1988-94, associate head coach and defensive coordinator.
Northwestern, 1986-87, defensive coordinator.
Pitt, 1982-85, defensive coordinator and linebackers.
Texas Christian, 1976-81, defensive coordinator; 1979-81, assistant head coach.
Tulsa, 1968, graduate assistant; 1969, freshman coach; 1970-74, linebackers; 1975, defensive coordinator.