Oct. 22, 2021

Panther statue dedicated in honor retired coach Jim Render

Retired Upper St. Clair High School football coach Jim Render was recognized for his service to the school community on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. A new panther statue, located within the stadium, and Legacy Hallway, near the football locker room, was unveiled in his honor. 

The Legacy Hallway features photos and milestones from throughout Coach Render’s four decades as head coach of the varsity football team as well as other significant highlights of the school’s football program. Funds for the statue and Legacy Hallway were raised by former football players and their friends and family through the Committee for Upper St Clair Football.  

For 40 years, Jim Render worked under the Friday Night Lights as head coach of the Upper St. Clair Panthers. He retired with one of the most distinguished and successful careers of any coach in any sport in WPIAL history. 

Under his leadership, Upper St. Clair earned 23 conference titles, five WPIAL titles and two state championships. With a career record of 406 wins – Jim Render holds the most wins of any high school football coach in WPIAL history and is the 25th winningest coach in the nation.

Coach Render has been inducted into the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Hall of Fame and the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. He was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lou Holtz Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame and was nominated by the Pittsburgh Steelers for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award.