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WEIRTON -- Beginning his football career in 1958 as a youth player, Tony Filberto has always loved the game and has been a fixture in Hancock County.
What he gave to the Red Riders and Golden Bears during his two stints as a coach at Weir and Oak Glen is unmatched.
He is the winningest coach in Oak Glen history and second at Weir, only behind Dan McGrew.
For all that Filberto gave back to the sport he loves so much, Wednesday marked the end of a long road that spanned 62 years. Filberto announced his retirement effective today.
"It's funny because every year is a standing joke," Filberto said. "People ask if I will coach again. I always said one more year, but I said that 45 times. I always wait until after Jan. 1 because you never know what the next year will bring. You have to evaluate what lies ahead for the upcoming season. This was a very difficult decision."
Before his coaching career spanned 45 years, Filberto was a standout lineman at West Liberty from 1969-72. He was inducted into the school's hall of fame at the 39th annual induction ceremony on Nov. 16. He was a four-year letterman, a two-time All-WVIAC selection and honorable mention NAIA All-American in 1971.
Shortly after his playing days, Filberto was Oak Glen's head coach from 1977-82 before making his way to Weir.
"I was very young and had a lot of growing pains," Filberto said. "We produced some pretty good football teams. I felt that I needed to progress around somebody else. Dan (McGrew) was the head coach at Weir, so I went and worked for him. Then, I stayed on for Wayne Neeley."
Filberto was a long-time assistant for the Red Riders, including the 1998 state championship team. In 2002, he was promoted to head coach and stayed at that position until 2004 when he retired for the first time.
"It was time for me then. I didn't know if I wanted to continue coaching or not," Filberto said.
Filberto was out of the game from 2005-07 but got that itch back. He decided to take his talents back to Oak Glen for a second stint, producing four winning seasons and two playoff appearances.
As successful as those years were, Filberto got a bigger itch to return to Weir.
"I've spent so much time there that I wanted to go back," Filberto said.
Upon returning as head coach of the Red Riders, they only won three games the previous three seasons. Filberto turned the program around and produced six consecutive winning season and five playoff appearances, including a berth in the Class AA state semifinal game in 2018.
Over the years, Filberto has received numerous coaching awards, including a pair of Kennedy Awards, a Hunt Award and a Huff Award.
"My wife and I do great things together. We'll have a blast with some personal things," he said. "I'm 70 years old. I'm still productive and semi healthy. You have to step back and see there are other things to enjoy. This is the time to do it.
"We're planning on a vacation for late spring and into the summer. We may want to go to the beach in September. Sebastian Spencer is running New York in a couple weeks so we may go up there and spend a few days in the city after."
Until the Red Riders find a new head coach, Filberto has offered to stick around and run the weight program. He also is willing to help them with whatever information they need on candidates.
"What I offered to (Weir) is I will give them any info that they need to know for what they're looking for to help direct their decision," he said. "Whoever it is, I will be available whenever they have a question, concern or want to scratch my brain.
"It's only fair to the school and to the kids. Weir High is a very special place to me."
Filberto and his wife, Roseanna, live in Wellsburg and have three sons, Joe Filberto, Ryan Weld and Eric Filberto.
Weir Athletic Director Donna Ferguson said the head coach posting will be made available sometime this week.