Steve Sitko
Steven Joseph Sitko (November 16, 1917 – January 8, 2003) was an American football player for the University of Notre Dame, and a professional basketball player.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 18, 1917 Fort Wayne, Indiana |
| Died | January 8, 2003 (aged 85) Akron, Ohio |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Central (Fort Wayne, Indiana) |
| College | Notre Dame (1937–1940) |
| Position | Guard |
| Career history | |
| 1940–1941 | Akron Goodyear Wingfoots |
| 1941–1944 | Akron Collegians |
| 1942–1943 | Akron Goodyear Wingfoots |
| 1943–1944 | Dayton Bombers |
| 1944 | Cleveland Allmen Transfers |
| 1947–1948 | Akron Collegians |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As a student at Fort Wayne Central High School, Sitko was best known for his basketball skills, earning the Gimbel Prize for scholastics and sportsmanship in 1936 and reaching the state finals.
Sitko became the starting quarterback at Notre Dame for two seasons, and would often confuse broadcasters when running Elmer Layden's "S" backfield, where all of the backs would be heavily involved in all aspects of the running and passing attack. His teams finished 8-1 (ranked #5) in 1938 and 7-2 (ranked #13) in 1939. He was named to the 1939 College Football All Polish-American Team.[1]
Although he was selected by the Washington Redskins in the 22nd round of the 1940 NFL Draft, Sitko chose instead to play in the National Basketball League for the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots. Meanwhile, his cousin Emil Sitko would have a stellar career at Notre Dame as a halfback under Frank Leahy.
Sitko was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997.
References
- Rosiak, A. J. (December 24, 1939). "In The Polish Colony". The Sunday Morning Star. p. 14. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
- Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
- "The lives of three intertwined Irish legends end". Irish Sports Report. February 9, 2003. Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved 2007-12-19.