Edward Wayne Ruisz, Palisades Teacher and Coach Whose Girls’ Track Team Posted 166 Straight Dual-Meet Wins, Dies at 70.
The late coach of Riegelsville, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on October 1, 2025. He was 70. Ed spent his childhood in Pearl River, N.Y., and later in Allentown.
As a 1973 Parkland High School graduate, he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history and education from Muhlenberg College (’77) and was a member of Phi Kappa Tau.
He was also a gifted athlete. Ruisz competed in track and field at Muhlenberg and medaled at the Penn Relays.
His early signs of a lifelong devotion to sports began with childhood trips to Yankees and West Point football games.
Ruisz started a 35-year teaching and coaching career at Palisades High School in 1977, becoming a beloved social studies teacher and an influential coach in both football and track and field.
An Unachievable Record for Pennsylvania High School
As head girls’ track coach, he led an unexpected and unachievable 166 consecutive dual-meet victories, a streak that stands among the most remarkable in Pennsylvania high-school sports history.
However, he will not be remembered solely for his sporting contributions. “Our Uncle Ed passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 1st. He is gone much too soon, and our hearts are shattered, but we know he is singing and dancing to New York, New York with our grandparents in Heaven. Ed was an amazing man whose memory lives on through all the lives he touched. We love you forever and always, Uncle,”, wrote her niece, Jennifer.
As head football coach, he guided Palisades to the program’s first winning season, a milestone that reshaped the school’s athletic identity.
Ruisz also expanded Palisades’ Advanced Placement history program as lead instructor and served on the school board, combining academic leadership with athletic achievement.
Beyond the high school sideline, he founded Ed Ruisz’s Speed Advantage Training. This regional program trained student-athletes in strength, speed, and conditioning, introducing new approaches to athletic development across Pennsylvania.
In August 2025, former students and assistant coaches successfully petitioned the district to name the Palisades Fitness Center in his honor, which was a public recognition of the impact he had on generations of athletes and students.
Ruisz will be remembered primarily for his coaching record, his pioneering training work, and the generations of student-athletes he helped shape.
Another Pasidales legend also lost his life this week, alongside Edward. Paul Steven “Steve” Hohenstein, a former Physical Education teacher at Palisades High School (Bucks County), also coached football and track, passed away at 78.
Both have received numerous heartwarming messages for their contribution to the community.
Ben Naska Wrote, “It would be a nice if we had a moment of silence tonight for both of these individuals prior to the homecoming game. As coaches of track & football and also excellent teachers; they helped shape and touch the lives of many of us in this district.”
“So sad. Two wonderful men who gave so much to our community. They should be appropriately honored,” added Michael Lynch.
