Luby DiMeolo

Who was Luby DiMeolo?

Albert A. "Luby" DiMeolo was an American football player and coach. He was the second ever head coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National Football League. He coached the Pirates during their second season of 1934. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio, but lived nearly his entire life in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, just west of Pittsburgh.

DiMeolo was a guard and captain on the 1929 University of Pittsburgh team that was undefeated before losing in the 1930 Rose Bowl to USC. Upon graduating from Pittsburgh, DiMeolo served as offensive line coach at New York University under head coach Chick Meehan and later Howard Cann.

When the Pittsburgh Pirates joined the NFL in 1933, DiMeolo was rumored to be the leading candidate to become the team's initial player-coach. He was passed over for the job in favor of Jap Douds, who lasted just a single season as the team's coach. DiMeolo replaced Douds for the team's second season. He led the Pirates to a disappointing 2–10 record in his first season, after which he was dismissed.

After leaving the Pirates, DiMeolo returned to the college ranks as an assistant coach at Westminster College and later at Carnegie Tech. He joined the navy during World War II and served as a physical instructor, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander.