Michael V. DeNoia, 87, teacher and coach

Michael V. DeNoia, 87, of Springfield, Delaware County, a retired athlete, teacher, and coach, died Wednesday, May 13, of Alzheimer's disease at Crozer Hospice at Taylor Hospital, Ridley Park.

Born in Hazleton, Mr. DeNoia was a scholastic and collegiate football and basketball star in the 1940s at Hazleton High School and the University of Scranton. He later earned a master's degree from Villanova University.

Mr. DeNoia was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1949. He had signed with the 49ers and had just completed preseason practice when he was drafted into the Army.

After his military service, Mr. DeNoia taught English and coached football and basketball at Clifton Heights High School. As head coach, he led the Clifton Heights semiprofessional football teams to perfect undefeated seasons in 1958 and 1959, winning 24 straight games and giving up no points in 1958.

"This was a time when semipro football was big," Mr. DeNoia told the Delaware County News Network in 2011. "We used to play on Sunday afternoons on the high school [now Clifton PAL] field, and the games were just full with people. Semipro ball had the same mystique for these towns as high school ball."

In the 1970s, he coached varsity football at St. Kevin's School, and he also coached Springfield's intermediate baseball teams.

Clifton Heights High School merged with Upper Darby High School; the former's last yearbook was dated 1972. After retiring in 1983 as an assistant principal at the combined Upper Darby High, Mr. DeNoia taught at Malvern Preparatory School for 13 years and rose to chair of the English department.

Mr. DeNoia was inducted into the University of Scranton's Wall of Fame, the Delaware County chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

Mr. DeNoia was married to Rita O'Malley, who died in 2010. Two sisters also died earlier. He is survived by his son, Michael J., and a sister.

A viewing is to be at the Church of St. Kevin, 200 W. Sproul Rd., Springfield, on Thursday, May 21, starting at 9:30 a.m., with a Funeral Mass at 10:30. Burial will follow at SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery.