IUP Athletic Hall of Fame
Playing every minute of every game in all four years as an IUP undergrad ... team most valuable player twice ... twice a regional All-American, four times both an All -Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and Western Pennsylvania Intercollegiate League choice . . . three years team captain.
All this describes Al Broadbent, but it doesn't tell the full story of the criminology and sociology Dean's List student who was invaluable to coach Vince Celtnieks' teams proving stingy indeed in permitting their opponents shots on goal or corner kicks, making a goalkeeper's life just a little easier.
Recruited from an inner-city high school (Lincoln ), Broadbent became a cornerstone of a soccer program that had been initiated in 1969 and built patiently until the Indians posted an l l-4 record his senior year. The season included a 9-1 West Penn record that won the league title, seven shutouts and a 1.14 goals-against average.
And it doesn't begin to tell the story of the 21-year veteran of the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, DC, where he is now Assistant Chief in charge of training the 4300 members of the department. Broadbent himself has completed a master's degree at Johns Hopkins University and graduated from the FBI National Academy.
Twice named Manager of the Year, he has been extended commands with the Washington police in homicide, traffic and internal affairs. His first Assistant Chief assignment placed him in charge of 2800 patrol officers.
Community interests have found him assisting with DC Special Olympics and serving on the board of Washington's Girls and Boys Clubs.
Broadbent has also kept a soccer avocation alive, first by playing for 10 years in a Washington area adult league, then coaching a Springfield, Virginia, girls' team for eight years. The team twice won state championships and more than 15 major tournaments.
Son-in-law of 1996 Hall of Fame inaugural inductee Owen Dougherty, Broadbent married IUP 1978 grad Virginia that year. She now holds a master's degree from Virginia Tech.
Daughter Megan and son A. J. are now a senior and sophomore at Lake Braddock High School, where Megan plays soccer and field hockey, and A. J. baseball.
