Manzi to step down as football coach at McDevitt
Gerry Fasano had a sneaking suspicion that last season would be the final campaign for Bishop McDevitt football coach Pat Manzi.
Gerry Fasano had a sneaking suspicion that last season would be the final campaign for Bishop McDevitt football coach Pat Manzi.
For years, Fasano, who runs the school's athletic Hall of Fame, urged Manzi to accept induction. But the winningest football coach in school history always politely declined.
Last spring, Manzi finally accepted.
"Pat is McDevitt football," said Fasano, who played on Manzi's first McDevitt squad in 1982 and later coached under Manzi.
"He's a very humble guy," Fasano said. "He's always been about his assistants and his players. He stayed out of the limelight remarkably well."
Friday afternoon, Manzi, who led the Lancers for 33 seasons, announced his retirement as the school's football coach. He will continue as the school's athletic director and as a history teacher. A search for the school's new coach will begin.
Manzi's final record at McDevitt was 189-151-5, the second-most wins in Catholic League history behind only Whitey Sullivan's 196 at Father Judge. Manzi also won three Catholic League championships, in 1986, 1987, and 1999.
"It was a wonderful experience, and I would certainly do it all over again," Manzi said. "I don't have any regrets whatsoever. It was an honor and a privilege coaching some pretty outstanding young men all those years. And I've had great assistant coaches, which has really made the difference."
Manzi took over during a tenuous time for the program, in 1982. The Lancers hadn't competed well in the Catholic League, and rumors swirled about the program's impending collapse.
"When I was interviewing for the job, there was strong talk about dropping the program here," Manzi said. "I said to myself, 'What did I walk into?' "
In his inaugural season, however, McDevitt upset undefeated regular-season champion Father Judge, Manzi's alma mater, 10-0, in the quarterfinals of the Catholic League playoffs.
It was McDevitt's first trip to the playoffs in its 20-year history.
"I think that set everything in motion," said Manzi, who also coached wrestling at North Catholic from 1974 to 1989. "I think we were fortunate that kids bought into the program, and I think it just took off from there."
Last season, Manzi led the Lancers (7-7, 1-3) to their first-ever state playoff win, a 35-19 first-round triumph against District 11 Marian Catholic.
"The first team to ever win a state playoff game and a Catholic League playoff game," Fasano said. "To me, he bookended his career."
On Feb. 6 at Williamson's Restaurant in Horsham, Manzi is to finally be inducted into McDevitt's hall of fame.
"Should be our most crowded banquet ever," Fasano said.
"He's been a father figure to a number of guys," he said. "He's been a good friend to many of his players. He doesn't forget a player, a team, or a play."
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