Clarion Athletics

An outstanding coach and teacher, Charles Ruslavage's contributions, especially in football, were instrumental in the Golden Eagles gridiron tradition from 1964-86, helping lead the Golden Eagles to an overall record of 160-57, a winning percentage of 73.7%  Ruslavage came to Clarion in 1964 to join his close friend and former teammate at Penn State Al Jacks, and the rest as they say is history. First he coached the offensive and defensive lines. In 1971 he became the defensive coordinator through 1981. In 1982, as head football coach, he led Clarion to a 7-3 mark. He went back to Defensive Coordinator in 1983 and stayed in that capacity through 1986, when he retired from coaching after 23 seasons. Clarion won 3 PSAC titles (1966, 80, 83) and 7 PSAC-West crowns (66, 67, 69, 77, 78, 80 and 83). Clarion defenses posted 28 shutouts from 1964-86 and held opponents to less than 10 points on 73 occasions. Clarion's defense posted 3 shutouts in the 1971 and 1980 seasons, while Ruslavage's defenses yielded only a 13ppg average from 1971-86 and 14.7ppg over his 23 overall seasons. He also re-started the track program as head coach from 1966-68 and received the Clarion University Distinguished Faculty Award in 1977 for developing the HPE's Coaching Certification program. A native of Coaldale, Pa. and a 1949 graduate of Coaldale High, Charlie entered the Coast Guard, then enrolled at Penn State in 1954 and had a tremendous football career as a center/guard and linebacker. An All-American, he played in the Blue-Gray and Senior Bowl games his senior year (1958) and was a January, 1959 PSU grad. Charlie and wife Leona came to Clarion in 1964.