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Today we join the Pelizzaro family in remembrance of Val Pelizzaro, who has passed away. A great coach. A great family man. A great friend. One of the nicest people to ever walk the earth. https://t.co/pUiNOEFize
Val Pelizzaro, longtime Saint Louis University men’s soccer assistant coach and a St. Louis soccer icon, passed away on Sept. 27. He was 87.
Pelizzaro served as an assistant coach at SLU from 1967-1997. He was part of some of the most memorable moments in SLU soccer history, including five NCAA championships during his tenure.
Pelizzaro played with the renowned Kutis S.C. in St. Louis, which captured the National Open championship in 1957 and Amateur titles from 1956-61. He competed internationally in the 1957 World Cup Games, the 1959 Pan American Games (bronze medal) and the 1960 Olympic qualifiers.
When legendary head coach Harry Keough was tabbed the Billikens’ head coach in 1967, Pelizzaro joined the staff. A full-time mail carrier with the United States Postal Service, Pelizzaro was paid just $300 for the season when he began. He would go on to serve as an assistant coach for 30 years at Saint Louis, including the entire tenure of Keough and his successor, Joe Clarke. From 1997-2009, Pelizzaro assisted Clarke at Washington University in St. Louis. Pelizzaro also helped coach at Visitation Academy.
The Billikens honored Pelizzaro at the Sept. 28 match against Rhode Island with a moment of silence prior to the game. In addition, the team wore black armbands in his honor. Saturday’s match was also the annual Homecoming game, and many of the SLU players Pelizzaro coached were in attendance.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, Oct. 1, from 4-8 p.m. at Kutis South County – 5255 Lemay Ferry. The funeral will be held Wednesday, Oct. 2, at 9:30 a.m. at Kutis South County, with a Mass to follow at 10 a.m. at St. Simon the Apostle Church – 11011 Mueller Road.
In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association.
