Indiana University of Pennsylvania Athletics

Nearly 25 years prior to IUP sponsoring a men's soccer team that enjoyed a successf ul run from 1969 through '91, what was then Indiana State Teachers College had initiated  a soccer program in 1946, with Ray Bernabei its first coach.

After directing the team as an ISTC senior for a year, the 1947 graduate did so for three more years while also teaching mathematics and coaching basketball at Indiana County's Clymer High School and completing a
master 's degree in educational administration at the University of Pittsburgh.

In 1950, he began an 11-year teaching and guidance tenure at Tarentum High School, where he was also football and soccer coach, before becoming assistant principal at Hampton High.

For 23 years (1940-63), he was an all-star player in the renowned West Penn Soccer League for the Indianola Indians and Harmarville Hurricanes. In that span Harmarville won two U. S. Open Challenge Cup national championships and was twice a U. S. National Amateur Cup finalist.
    
While superintendent of schools in Mentor, Ohio, in the mid-Sixties, he completed doctoral studies at Western Reserve University in Cleveland. From 1967 to 1980 he was assistant executive director  of  the Bucks County Schools  near Philadelphia. As both he continued soccer officiating begun in 1949 until 1990.  In this role, he refereed more than 100 college tournament games, including two NCAA Division I national finals and  two NAIA finals.  After serving as president of the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association, he became executive Director of the organization in 1975 and holds that post today.

Today's induction is Ray Bernabei's sixth Hall of Fame honor. The first, in 1976, was bestowed by the national soccer officials.  That  was followed  by Western  Pennsylvania , National Soccer,Allegheny-Kiski  and NAIA recognitions. The national soccer coaches association has honored  him three times.

Bernabei's achievements in academic concerns are just as impressive, earning him several awards. Con sultant to public school districts in 36 states in the United States and seven countries, he was presented a n Excellence in Teaching Award by Rollins College, where he has taught part-time since 1983.