He was one of the finest all-around athletes ever produced at Buckeye South.

Jay Kopral starred in three sports for the Rebels. He went on to become a well-respected prep grid coach.

With a lot of life yet in front of him, Kopral died Oct. 13, awaiting a liver transplant. Doctors at the time of diagnosis gave him five years to live. He survived just five months, much of the time dealing with great pain.

He was just 49.

The Tiltonsville native was graduated from Buckeye South in 1984 after a stellar football-basketball-baseball career.

He led all OVAC rushers in his senior year at South under the tutelage of Bill McHugh. It earned him all-Ohio honors and an opportunity to play football at Ohio University.

As fate would have it, a knee injury curtailed his gridiron career. It did not, however, end his athletic career.

Undaunted, Kopral transferred to West Liberty, where he scripted a stellar baseball resume for OVAC Hall of Famer Bo McConnaughy. He was an outfielder for the Hilltoppers, and a very productive one.

During the 1988 season, Kopral led the ‘Toppers with a .404 batting average. He was also the team leader in doubles and triples as West Liberty compiled a 20-13 record en route to winning the West Virginia Conference title.

Kopral still holds the WLU record for triples in a season (6).

His baseball skills were also displayed with the Steubenville Legion and post-college with Maynard of the Ohio Valley Baseball League.

Kopral cut his coaching teeth in the Buckeye Local system. He eventually came to call Jackson High in southern Ohio home, where he taught and served as offensive coordinator for the Ironmen.

Kopral help guide the Division III school to a 10-0 regular season mark last fall. Jackson defeated Logan Elm in the opening round of the playoffs before losing to Columbus DeSales.

During his playing days at Buckeye South, Kopral was a standout for legendary Henry “Herk” Lazasz in basketball. He netted 704 career points, eighth all-time in school annals. Kopral earned first-team all-district and second-team all-OVAC honors as a senior.

In baseball, he posted a career batting average better than .400.

Jay is survived by his parents James and Irene (Kuntupis) Kopral, a sister, Leanne Kopral of Colorado, and two nephews, Zavier and Phoenix Straub.

Kapral may be reached at bkapral@timesleaderonline.com