Robert G. Ronai, a native of Ridgewood, New Jersey, and currently of London, Ohio, was the 22nd member to be inducted into the Urbana University Esquire Hall of Fame Saturday, January 24. Ronai, Urbana University Head Men's Basketball Coach and Athletic Director from 1986-97, is the second coach to be inducted.

Ronai brought a fierce competitive nature to the Blue Knights. He owned a 210-140 career record while coaching the Blue Knights. He holds the single season record for most wins in a season for men's basketball with 26 (1991-92, 1992-93, and 1996-97).During his tenure, six different Blue Knight basketball players earned NAIA All-America status, Donnie Gillespie (Honorable Mention in 1997); Jerry "J.J." White (Honorable Mention in 1996 and First Team in 1997); Jerry Ligon (Third Team in 1994); Wade Goins (First Team in 1993); Wyatt Goins (Honorable Mention in 1992); and Brett Baker (Honorable Mention in 1990).

He was also named Mid-Ohio Conference and District 22 Coach of the Year in 1993 after guiding the Blue Knight men's basketball team to their second straight trip to the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri. That 1993 team finished in the Elite Eight and won the tournament's Emil ListonJames Naismith Sportsmanship Award. Ronai won the Charles Krigel Award for coaching that team. Urbana was ranked as high as 7th nationally (the highest rating by any Blue Knight team), in the 1992-93 campaign.

Not only did he reap results on the court, but also as an administrator. Ronai served as athletic director of Urbana University for 11 years and in that time he was a two-time NAIA District 22 Administrator of the Year. He was honored in 1992 and once again in 1993. Ronai was president of the former Mid-Ohio Conference for three terms. He was key in the formation of the Mid-States Football Association in 1994 in which Urbana was a charter member. He was also a member of the District 22 Executive Committee.

From 1997-99 he coached at Frostburg State University and lead them to the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference tournament championship game two years in a row.

In 1999 Ronai returned to high school coaching at Cathedral Prep in Erie, PA and then back to London, Ohio where he earned Buckeye Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2002 for leading his team to the BAC and Sectional championships. Coach Ronai has taken every downtrodden team he has coached and turned the programs around. He is currently at tradition-laden Middletown (Ohio) high school where he is in the process of revamping a program that has been down for the past several years.

A native of Ridgewood, New Jersey, Ronai received his bachelor's degree from St. Francis College in Fort Wayne, Ind. He lettered in soccer, basketball and baseball. Ronai went on to earn his master's degree from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. Prior to his stint at Urbana, Ronai coached on the prep level at Massanutten Academy in Woodstock, Virginia, and at Mars Hill College in North Carolina.

He and his wife Debbie are the parents of four children: Jason, James (deceased), Jared and Janeale.