Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) is mourning the loss of former executive director, Lawrence (Larry) Hanley, who passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 12, 2025.
 
Hanley impacted the WPIAL in every possible way for nearly three decades, serving as a steering committee member, Board of Directors member and officer, and finally as the league’s second executive director. He spent 16 years on the WPIAL Board of Directors, spending six as its vice president and another six as the president. In 1997, he was appointed by the board as executive director – a position he held until his retirement in 2006.
 
Born in Pittsburgh, Hanley graduated from Crafton High School in 1959 and played baseball and football. After beginning his undergraduate studies at Westminster College, he transferred to Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he played football and was a sports writer for the school newspaper, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1965. Hanley later earned a Master’s degree at IUP in 1968, and garnered his secondary administration certification from Duquesne University in 1973.
 
Hanley spent his next 33 years in the Gateway School District, beginning with a social studies teaching position at the junior high school. He also was an assistant coach for the baseball and football teams during an eight-year stretch before being appointed as assistant principal and athletic director at Gateway High School in 1973. Hanley was instrumental in introducing new sports to the district’s program, including soccer (boys’ and girls’), volleyball (boys’ and girls’), and girls’ cross country and track & field. In 2001, he was inducted into the Gateway Sports Hall of Fame, and two years after his retirement from the WPIAL, he was inducted into the WPIAL Hall of Fame Class of 2008.
 
Hanley is remembered for his tireless efforts to improve interscholastic athletics for all student-athletes in Western Pennsylvania. The WPIAL offers its thoughts and prayers to the Hanley family and friends.

Hanley's official obituary can be found at the following link: https://www.hartfuneralhomeinc.com/obituary/Lawrence-Hanley
 
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