A graduate of nearby Struthers High School, Bill Kozak made a name for himself on the baseball fields in Struthers. He continued his success on the Penguin diamond, and believe it or not, still plays in the local class "AA" league at the age of 43 - hoping to retire from the game the same time he retires from his current job with the United States Post Office (Struthers branch).
"Koz" as he is affectionately called by his many friends, caught Coach Dom Rosselli's eye along the scholastic trail and enrolled at YSU in the fall of 1967. A four-year letterwinner for the Penguins, he is the only two-time first-team All-America, receiving the honor as a catcher for YSU from 1968 to 1971 (he was named all America during his junior and senior campaigns).
His freshman season was his only sub .300 hitting campaign as he batted just .229 while getting adjusted to the collegiate game. The team was 19-5 that season with Kozak playing in 19 games his initial collegiate season.
As a sophomore in 1969, he batted .360 and led the team to a 21-10 overall mark, the first of nine straight 20+ win seasons. The 21 wins was a new record for wins in a single season at the time. His junior campaign, he batted .369 clouting 10 doubles, a triple and two home runs, registering a .583 slugging percentage en route to his first of two Division II all America honors. The team posted a 24-15 mark (breaking the record set one year earlier for most wins in a season) and in the process, registered the 200th all time victory for both the school and Coach Rosselli.
As a senior, he captured his second straight All-America honor by batting .417, clouting four home runs and 29 runs batted in with a sparkling .563 slugging percentage, the team posting a 24-0 mark to tie the previous team for the high water mark of most wins in a single season.
For his four-year career, Kozak had 103 total hits, batted .361 with 15 doubles, three triples and eight home runs, had 53 runs batted in the 148 total bases for a .519 slugging percentage.
He has been employed at the Struthers post office since 1972, and is still a fixture on the local sandlot baseball scene where he is still an active participant. Married to the former Carol Smith, the couple resides in Poland township with their son, Nathan (12).
Born June 27, 1949, he is a 1967 graduate of Struthers High School.
