Unice remembered as successful player, coach, mentor
John Unice, an enthusiastic, “get-after-it” type of basketball player at Uniontown High School and Washington & Jefferson College, and then later successful coach at Washington and McKeesport high schools and W&J died last week.
Unice, 81, was a standout for the Red Raiders, helping them to a pair of WPIAL championship games. Unfortunately, Uniontown lost to Farrell in Unice’s junior year and then lost to Mt. Lebanon his senior year. Uniontown beat Mt. Lebanon in the regular season and finished with a 24-1 record.
Unice, who graduated from W&J in 1965, was the face of Presidents basketball for four decades. He established his legacy as a player and a coach.
He came to W&J as a freshman in 1961 and became the starting point guard in his fifth collegiate game. He played all 72 games during his four years.
Unice was a two-time team MVP and a two-time All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference honoree. Following his senior season, he was chosen to the all-district team, averaging 14.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
He was coached by David Scarborough, who called Unice “the finest player I’ve ever coached.”
Unice is survived by his wife, Carolyn, children Stephanie (Tony) Scruppi, Lynne (Paul) Yater, and John (Michele) Unice, 11 grandchildren and several other family members
His loss is felt across the W&J, Washington and Uniontown communities.
My heart is broken,” said Michael Pratt, a graduate of Uniontown and W&J and one of Unice’s best players.
“I was headed to another college and John Unice is the one who convinced me to attend W&J. He was a tough coach. He made sure of us doing well academically but was also someone whose door was always open.”
Said Scott McGuinness, W&J athletic director: “We were very saddened to hear about the passing of coach Unice and our prayers are with his family. For four decades, he was the face of W&J basketball as a player and coach. In my years at W&J, coach Unice always checked in and provided me advice and I always appreciated his enthusiasm for the red and black.
“He’s a Hall of Fame player and coach,” said former W&J player Dave Branchen. “When I reflect, I knew he was an even better person, always there to talk to. He was empathetic with his players and was just a great role model for everyone to look up to.
Unice was beloved at Washington High School as well.
“He taught me the game of basketball,” said Robert (Braymore) Anderson, a member of Washington’s 1973 team. “There was no better teacher of the game than John. He understood our backgrounds. He understood the game and had great assistants. He knew how to get the most out of us and he promoted education.”
“John was someone that I could always look up to as being my basketball coach as well as a father figure,” said Carl Grinage, who played for Unice at Washington. “I thought he was able to instill in me, as well as the other players, a lot of good work ethic. He taught us a lot about discipline, sacrifice and working hard and teamwork, which was very beneficial to us as we were growing up.”
Unice became the head coach at his alma mater in 1976. He coached 17 years at W&J and led the Presidents to three PAC titles. He was named the PAC Coach of the Year three times.
In 1984-85, Unice guided W&J to an 18-6 overall record and a trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The 18 wins tied a school record and were the most by a W&J squad since 1951. He was selected as the Small College District Coach of the Year.
In 1968, Unice, just 26-years-old, transferred his playing success and spirit for the game to Wash High basketball. His disciplinary and motivating style meshed well with his Little Prexies’ individual talent and thirst for success.
His coaching career took off at Wash High. He led the Little Prexies to three consecutive section championships (1971-1973) and to the 1973 WPIAL Class B championship game.
Wash High lost to a talented Midland squad at the former Civic Arena in Pittsburgh. The Little Prexies won two PIAA games to advance to the PIAA Western finals before again losing to Midland in the state semifinals. Wash High finished with a 25-4 record that year.
“That’s the best team I ever coached,” Unice once said.
Unice parlayed his success at Wash High to landing the head coaching job at McKeesport, where he would win one section title outright and shared another. Wash High won 34 of 36 section games his final three seasons.
Unice’s most successful protege is Ron Faust. He played for Unice then coached for him. Faust went on to lead the Little Prexies to four WPIAL titles and two PIAA championships.
“To be honest, he was my mentor,” Faust said. “He took me under his wing. He had quite a passion for the game and he was an excellent coach. He was the person who got Wash High basketball on the map and going again.”