Al Shriver was an "old school" high school football coach decades before the term became vogue.

"I think we were the last school around here that still wore black, high-top cleats, but that's what he wanted," said Tim O'Malley, who played quarterback for Mr. Shriver at Avonworth High School.

Mr. Shriver, an Emsworth resident who coached Avonworth for 18 seasons and taught biology at the school for 31 years, died Friday at Kane Regional Center in Ross of heart disease. He was 84.

Mr. Shriver was Avonworth's coach from 1950 to 1967, and his 1959 team tied Union Township, 13-13, in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) Class B championship. During Mr. Shriver's tenure, he coached Eugene "Mercury" Morris, who went on to win Super Bowls as a running back with the NFL's Miami Dolphins.

Mr. O'Malley, who is the executive director of the WPIAL, was Avonworth's quarterback for Mr. Shriver's final three seasons as coach. Mr. O'Malley called Mr. Shriver "an old-fashioned coach" who came to practice wearing a baseball hat and sometimes chewing on a cigar.

"I wasn't very good," Mr. O'Malley said with a laugh. "The thing that I remember about [Mr. Shriver] was that he was like a gentle giant who commanded respect. He was as gruff and demanding as anybody could be on the football field.

"Then you'd go to school the next day and he'd always have on a white shirt and tie and would be the consummate professional as a teacher. He was highly respected by everybody."

Mr. Shriver, who played football at Martins Ferry (Ohio) High School and then at Muskingum College, was only 43 when he retired from coaching. In his final season, an Avonworth player collapsed and died during a preseason practice.

"I think he probably would've stayed on longer coaching if that didn't happen," said Cynthia Davis of Ross, Mr. Shriver's daughter. "I remember how upset he was at that."

Mr. Shriver's two sons, Scott of McCandless and Jim of Sedalia, Colo., played football at Avonworth. Jim, a lineman, earned a scholarship to Pitt and lettered for the Panthers in 1983.

Mr. Shriver was also proud of his teaching duties. Scott Shriver became a biology teacher at Avonworth when his father retired.

Mr. O'Malley also was a student in Mr. Shriver's biology classes.

"You always turned your homework in because you were fearful if you didn't," he said.

Mr. Shriver served with the Navy Seabees, the naval construction battalion, during World War II. He also was an avid botanist.

In addition to his children, he is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lois; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at McDonald-Linn Funeral Home, 529 California Ave., Avalon, where services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m.

Memorial contributions can be made to Emsworth United Presbyterian Church, 73 Hiland Ave., Emsworth, PA 15202.