The Berks County Football Coaches Association will induct Jasen Esposito, Bruce Harbach, Bill Hess, Jack Prutzman and Al Wolski into its Hall of Fame as the Class of 2022 at its annual banquet on Saturday, June 4 at the Green Valley Country Club, it was announced. Sunday.
Additionally, the seven-member class of 2021 – Alex Auston of Wilson, Kerry Collins and Jake Slemmer, Chris Mayer of Central Catholic, Rick Scalese of West Reading/Daniel Boone, Matt Scornavacchi of Governor Mifflin and Ross Tucker of Wyomissing – will also be recognised. There was no banquet last year or Class of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Here is an overview of the class of 2022:
Jasen Esposito
Esposito, a graduate of Holy Name and Kutztown University, was an All-Berks pick at guard and defensive end for the Blue Jays in 1997 and 1998, then a three-year starter at left tackle for the Golden Bears. He was a first-team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East pick as a senior in 2002.
In 2003, he signed as an undrafted free agent with the New England Patriots before spending two seasons (2004-05) on the Buffalo Bills practice squad. He also played for Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europe.
He has been an assistant coach at Holy Name and Berks Catholic since 2008.
Esposito is vice president of Go Big Recruiting, a service that helps high school athletes connect with college coaches.
Bruce Harbach
Harbach, a Wilson graduate who is Schuylkill Valley’s head coach, has enjoyed success as a player, assistant coach and head coach, including winning two PIAA titles as coach of Lancaster Catholic.
He played quarterback for the Bulldogs and was twice picked by the All-Berks before playing college at Slippery Rock and West Chester.
He was an assistant coach at Wilson, Reading High and Conrad Weiser, among other schools, as well as West Chester University and Albright.
In 16 seasons at Lancaster Catholic, Harbach guided his teams to a 141-63 record, two state titles (2009, 2011), four District 3 titles and seven consecutive Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3 championships. .
He led the Crusaders to undefeated regular seasons in 2005, ’06, ’10 and ’11.
Bill Hesse
Hess, a Holy Name graduate, has been involved in athletics at Holy Name and Berks Catholic as a player, coach and administrator for 34 years.
He was the starting center for the 1987 Holy Name Inter-County League Championship team, which set the program record with 11 wins.
He was the athletic director of Holy Name and then Berks Catholic from 2005-21. He was named the school principal of Berks Catholic last year.
During his tenure as a director, he served as President of the Berks Inter-County Football League and President of BCIAA Football.
Hess was an assistant football coach for 30 seasons. He was also a softball head coach and an assistant baseball coach.
Jack Prutzman
Prutzman, who played for Reading High from 1953 to 1955, was one of the county’s top offensive linemen and a team captain for the Red Knights.
He was appointed to reading eagle All-Century team in 2000 and its 1950s All-Decade team.
Prutzman continued to play football and wrestle at Ursinus.
He taught health and physical education at Reading High and was an assistant football coach for the Red Knights from 1961 to 1971.
He is a member of the Reading High Hall of Fame, Berks Wrestling Hall of Fame and Ursinus Athletic Hall of Fame.
Al-Wolski
Wolski coached Reading High from 1995 to 2003, going 65-28 in his nine seasons.
Under Wolski, the Red Knights won the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 titles in 1998, 2000 and 2003, and played in the District 3 title match in 2003.
He left Reading High to take over as head coach at State College High, where he went 87-42 and won three Mid-Penn Conference Commonwealth Championships from 2004 to 2014. He led the Little Lions in a state title game in 2009.
Wolski was a three-year starting lineman in Phoenixville and played collegiately at South Carolina and West Chester.
