’Hounds teaming up again for beloved coach
By JEREMY SELLEW
jsellew@yourmvi.com
When Alicia (Stein) Galis heard the news of Major Corley’s death, she, like so many others in the Monessen community, was devastated.
Galis, a 2005 Monessen graduate, was a standout basketball player for “Tuffy” on the 2004 WPIAL and PIAA championship team. She actually outscored teammate Charel Allen in helping the Greyhounds become the first girls team from a public school to win a state championship at the Class A level.
“Tuffy was so much more than a coach to me,” Galis said. “We had a special relationship. He was hard on me for all the right reasons. I was known as the cryer, but he could just look at me and give me that little grin and smile. Then I knew we were good. Playing for him, you wanted to go out every game and you didn’t want to disappoint him.”
The 6-8 Corley died nearly a year ago, July 13, due to complications associated with COVID-19. His death sent shock waves throughout the Monessen community and all the former players he coached throughout his 25-year coaching career. He finished with 460 wins, 13 section titles, three WPIAL titles and the state title in 2004. Monessen athletic director and former basketball great Gina Naccarato was an assistant coach for that team.
“Major was a gentle giant and the classiest person I’ve ever been around,” Naccarato said after his death. “I was fortunate enough to play for him and coach under him. I learned so much from him. He taught me how to win and lose with class and how to run a program the right way.”
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