Joe Bressi has compiled quite a resume as a successful coach in the state of Pennsylvania.

Bressi, who was one of 11 members of the 2014 class that was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday night.The successful basketball coach, who got his start as an assistant football coach at Marian High School when he was 25 years old, took time to reflect on the days that gave him his start on a successful athletic trail."The biggest thing as a 25-year-old, which was probably one of the youngest coaches in the state at that time, made it quite a challenge and opened a lot of doors for me," he said.Having head coach on his resume was a big deal."It was a good experience and it led to other things, but just the chance Father Sacks gave me at the time was really big.Joe Leonzi was instrumental hiring him as an assistant coach the year before."I did my student teaching in Tamaqua so I knew Joe. It just opened the door at a time when jobs were tough. But Joe took me on and it was kind of funny because I got to coach against him that next year."It was kind of neat and a good experience for me. I had a young staff and I have fond memories of those times back then."That was just the start.Bressi was the head girls basketball coach at Bishop McDevitt High School from 1976 to 1986 and compiled an overall record of 238 wins and 40 losses.While at McDevitt, his teams won eight conference titles, five district titles, reached the PIAA Eastern final four staight years and played in two state championships.He ended his McDevitt coaching career with 76 straight regular season wins.His next stop was at Bloomsburg University, where he coached the women's basketball team from 1986 to 1993 compiling a record of 175 wins and 47 losses.The Lady Huskies captured six conference titles, one PSAC championship, one regional championship and made the NCAA tournament four times.The 1988-89 team became the first NCAA Division II women's team to go undefeated with a record of 267-0.The 1990-91 team went 25-0.Bressi was named Conference Coach of the Year three times.Bressi took over the men's basketball team at Lycoming College and coached there from 1994 through 2000. He compiled a record of 97-53 and was twice named Middle Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year. Two of his Lycoming teams made it to the NCAA Tournament.Overall, his coaching record was 510-140.Bressi served nine years as Central Dauphin High School athletic director before returning to coaching last season as the Bishop McDevitt head girls basketball coach.The team finished 7-16 and reached the District 3 quarterfinals.Bressi and his wife Carol have two children, Mike and Nikki and three grandchildren, Kalli, Gavin and Mason.