Richard Tongel is one of the most decorated men's soccer goalkeepers in SRU history.
Tongel played three seasons in net for Slippery Rock from 1978-80. Even after playing in just two games in 1979, he ranks fourth in SRU men's soccer history in wins (23), seventh in saves (215) and save percentage (.773), eighth in goalie games started (31) and 10th in goalie games played (32). He was also a key contributor on a Rock team that won the NCAA Division III ECAC Tournament in 1978 and helped SRU earn a NCAA West Penn Conference title in 1980.
After graduating in 1981, Tongel began an impressive career in sales. From 1982-84, he worked for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. He later moved on to Copy World of Pittsburgh Savin' Corporation for eight years becoming the general sales manager. Following a few more venue changes, Tongel became the regional manager of Cisco Systems in 2006 and still works there today.
While spending a career building and coaching sales teams, he has also become a second degree black belt and is an avid contributor to the American Cancer Society and the Pittsburgh Food Bank.
Tongel and his wife, the late Debi Tongel, have two children: Bre and Ricky. Bre played softball at Slippery Rock from 2011-14.
