At the age of eight, Emil fractured his leg playing baseball. While recovering from his injury, he contracted a staph infection that developed into osteomyelitis in his right ankle. The infection was not diagnosed in time. Thus, Nardone became very ill and the doctors had to perform an immediate blood transfusion. But his troubles didn't end there. The blood that he received was tainted with Hepatitis C, ultimately causing the loss of his leg in 2004. Emil Nardone graduated from Union HS in 1966. In 1974, he started teaching at Union Junior HS, where Nardone initiated the first wrestling program. He also started their first youth wrestling program in 1978. In 1980, his physical problems returned. The hepatitis C virus became active. Coach Nardone had to battle through severe illness, medical treatment, and liver cirrhosis for the next 15 years. However, from 1983 to 2002, Emil Nardone started the first wrestling team at Bishop Donahue HS. He produced five state champions and one OVAC champion, along with winning over 150 dual meets. Coach Nardone was inducted into the Bishop Donahue Athletic Hall of Fame (1993). In 2002, Emil Nardone had to retire due to his physical problems, but his legacy of determination lives on at Bishop Donahue. Emil Nardone presently resides in Benwood with his loving wife, Kathy. They have two sons, Drs. Emil & Matt Nardone.