(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Matt Freed/Post Gazette)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) Joe Hamilton, the second winningest coach in WPIAL history, passed away this morning at the age of 84.

According to former Blackhawk athletic director Jack Fullen, Hamilton died at the St. Barnabas Beaver Meadows personal care home in Brighton Township.

Hamilton was a head coach in the WPIAL for almost 50 years before retiring after the 2014 season ended.

He finished his high school football coaching career with 342 wins, and only one coach in the WPIAL had more, which was former Upper St. Clair coach Jim Render.

Hamilton is best known for his career coaching at Blackhawk.

He was 280-142-7 in 39 years coaching the Cougars.

He also made 19 WPIAL playoff appearances, won four WPIAL championships, which includes three in a row from 1991-1993, made two other appearances in title games of the WPIAL, and went to a championship game for the PIAA three times.