I was a multi-sport athlete in high school and chose to pursue football and major in education in college. I walked on at Slippery Rock University (D2 – PSAC – West) in the spring of 1985 and completed both my degree and playing career in December of 1989. I registered 129 career tackles and was honored as a PSAC West All-Conference Second Team selection as a senior. I played my senior year under legendary head coach Dr. George Mihalik, who retired after the 2015 season, and my position coach was the late 1956 WVU All-American Joe Kopnisky, who played in the East/West Shrine Game and Senior Bowl and was later drafted by the NFL’s Chicago Cardinals.
Upon graduation, I accepted a teaching/coaching position alongside Jerry Carter in Warrenon, Virginia, where I taught and coached for three years prior to returning to Pennslyvania. I began a career at Bloomsburg University (D2 – PSAC – East) handling the defensive line/strength and conditioning duties and was blessed to have coached 28 players to First Team All-PSAC East honors, 23 players to Second Team All-Conference honors, and three All-Americans (Gary Fittery, Jon Ochs and Larry Webster). Webster was also a fourth-round draft pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2014 NFL Draft, and he spent two seasons with Detroit. Currently, he is with the Carolina Panthers. In 2014, I was honored as the Samson Equipment Division II Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year.
I will be entering my 28th year as a physical education/health teacher in the Bloomsburg Area School District. I previously led the athletic program as the director of athletics for 17 years. My wife Debbie and I are the parents of two daughters, Leighnah and Willow. Leighnah graduated magna cum laude from Ursinus College in May of 2017 with a degree in media and communications and a minor in creative writing. Willow is entering her sophomore year at Bloomsburg University, and she plays forward on the field hockey team. She is currently undecided with her major.