Two coaches who enjoy long and successful careers — one football and one track — have been added to the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference’s Hall of Fame.

Ron Pobolish, who enjoyed a lengthy football coaching career at several area schools — most notably at Buckeye Local – and Craig Schneid, who guided Magnolia to a plethora of state track championships, have been added to the conference shrine as members of the Class of 2025.

They will be honored at the 21st OVAC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at WesBanco Arena in August along with a host of previously-announced selections that include: Errin Baynes of Wheeling Park and Alex Young of Indian Creek (2010s Athletes); Clay Tucker of Martins Ferry and Derek Wolfe of Beaver Local (2000s Athletes); Richie Mamie of Bellaire and Chet Pobolish of Buckeye Local (1990s Athletes); Ann Osborne of St. Clairsville and Heath Haynes of Linsly (1980s); Gary Fonner of Bishop Donahue and Ernie Andria of Wintersville (1970s); Pat Korsnick of Wheeling Central and Gerald Schultze of Wheeling High (1960s); Steve Wojcik, Jr. (OVAC Family) and Mike DelRe (OVAC Contributor).

Here’s a look at the latest group of selections:

Ron Pobolish (Dillonvale High School, Class of 1966). This legendary football coach put together a 144-102-1 record over 24 seasons as a head coach at several area schools with a combined five OHSAA playoff appearances, four OVAC championships and three unbeaten teams.

After two years as an assistant at Martins Ferry after college, Pobolish began his head coaching career at Cadiz High (1973-76, 29-10-1 record), including 9-0-1 and 9-1 seasons in his final two years and an OVAC Class 2A championship in 1975. He then coached at John Marshall for three years (1977-79, 9-21 record).

Following a seven-year break, he returned to the sidelines at Buckeye South for two years (1986-87, 9-11 record) and two years at Buckeye SouthWest (1988-89, 14-6 record).

Then, after the final district consolidation, he guided Buckeye Local for six seasons (1990-95, 53-13 record), including the memorable 1994 campaign when the Panthers reached the OHSAA Division II State Championship game, where they dropped a 17-6 decision to Chardon to finish as the runner-up with a sparkling 13-1 record. To get to the title game, Buckeye Local defeated Uniontown Lake (25-7), Columbus Bishop Watterson (26-7) and Piqua (21-14).

After a second seven-year hiatus from the prep ranks which included a couple of years as an assistant at West Liberty State College, he took the reins at Harrison Central for two years (2003-04, 9-11 record), helping a struggling program get untracked.

Finally, he returned to Buckeye Local for a second stint, this time for five years (2005-09, 21-27), reaching the playoffs in 2008 and ’09 before retiring for good.

Under Pobolish, the Panthers won three OVAC Class 4A championships (1991, 1994 and 2009), five River Valley League titles and one Buckeye 8 crown. He coached in the OVAC Rudy Mumley All-Star Football Game four times (1976, 1978, 1988 and 2010).

A three-time Eastern District ‘Coach of the Year’ and the Ohio Valley Football Coach of the Year in 1975, he was previously inducted into the Ohio Valley Football Coaches Hall of Fame (2000) and the Buckeye Local Wall of Honor (2024).

As an athlete, Pobolish was a three-sport standout at Dillonvale High School (football, baseball, basketball), earning third team All-Ohio Class A honors in football and all-Eastern Ohio in football and basketball. He went on to be a three-year football starter at West Virginia University — one year at running back and two years as a defensive back. He was also the starting second baseman on the Mountaineers’ baseball team as a sophomore.

Pobolish passed away in 2024 at the age of 76.

Craig Schneid (St. John Central High School, Class of 1973). He enjoyed a tremendous career as a boys’ track coach that spanned nearly four decades, including coaching teams to 10 state championships — tied for the most in the history of West Virginia boys’ track with Russ Parsons (Stonewall Jackson/Parkersburg).

Schneid-coached teams won nine state titles at Magnolia in Class A-AA (1991, ’92, ’93, ’95, ’96, ’99, 2000, ’01, ’02) and one at Wheeling Central in Class A (2008). He guided the Maroon Knights for five years before stepping back to an assistant’s role before finally calling it a career in 2019.

He also had three state runner-up teams and led Magnolia to three OVAC Class 3A championships (1995, ’96 and ’97).

During his career, Schneid coached 42 individual and 28 relay state champions; eight high point scorers at the state meet and eight state meet record-holders. His athletes won every event at the state meet at some point except the pole vault.

Schneid was selected West Virginia Track Coach of the Year five times; Ohio Valley Track Coach of the Year four times; the OVAC All-Sport Coach of the Year in 2002; the Dapper Dan Co-Man of the Year in 2002 along with another OVAC Hall of Famer — Oak Glen wrestling coach Larry Shaw; a finalist for the West Virginia All-Sport Coach of the Year in 1996 and 2002; and he was inducted into the West Virginia Schools Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.

In addition to coaching track, Schneid was also an assistant football coach for two years and an assistant wrestling coach for one year at Magnolia and one year as golf coach at Paden City.

The St. John Central product received his bachelor’s degree from West Liberty State College (1977) and his master’s degree from West Virginia University.