LEETONIA — The Leetonia school district is rallying behind basketball coach and teacher Guy Costello.

Costello, a middle school/high school history teacher at Leetonia for more than 30 years, has taken a leave of absence after being diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in May.

“Coach Costello has been a long time career educator at Leetonia schools,” Leetonia superintendent Dennis Dunaham said. “Throughout Coach Costello’s career he has given 100%. He has supported our students, staff and the entire Leetonia community as much as any individual I have been around. I think it’s a very natural fit progression that during his fight with ALS, the staff, the students and our community come back around and support him.”

Several fundraisers have been planned to help defray the cost of medical and adaptive living expenses.

Staff and students have created a district and community-wide T-shirt fundraiser. There also was a fundraiser during Tuesday’s volleyball match and a White Out for Costello Strong will be held at the Sept. 29 football game against United. T-shirts ($20) and “Costello’s Crew” bracelets ($2) will be sold at the entrance by the bell tower from 6 to 8 p.m. during the football game.

Costello has been a the head boys basketball coach at Leetonia the last two seasons after being a Salem girls varsity assistant for five seasons. He was head coach with the Jackson-Milton boys in the 2015-16 season and was at Leetonia the first time around for four years through 2003.

He has 31 years of coaching experience, including time at Struthers, his alma mater, and Heartland Chrisitan.

“Costello’s Crew” also will hold a spaghetti dinner benefit at the school on Nov. 5.