June 10, 2024

Legenday Valley Forge basketball coach and 2014 VF Hall of Famer John Stavole has passed away.  One of Valley Forge’s most successful head coaches John Stavole led the Patriots' boys’ basketball program for 20 years. Coach Stavole guided his 1987-88 basketball team to the OHSAA Final Four. Numerous teams achieved a high level of success under Stavole. His 1996-97 team advanced to the regional final. Stavole’s teams also appeared in the regionals in 1989, 1992 and 1995. The Patriots also earned five district championships, eight sectional championships and three conference championships under Stavole’s tutelage. He is a two-time GCBCA Coach of the Year and was the 1992 Cuyahoga Country Coach of the Year.  After his career at VF, Stavole was an assistant at John Carroll University for eight seasons helping the Blue Streaks earn five OAC titles and make four NCAA Division III appearances. He is also inducted into the John Carroll University Athletic, the St. Ignatius High School and the Parma Amateur Athletic Federation Hall of Fames.  The Valley Forge community offers their condolences to the Stavole family. 

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                            1987-88 Final Four Team