Cathedral Prep’s Mike Mischler Resigns

Tagged under: District 10, Gameday Hub, News

Phil Myers | February 28, 2022

Mike and son Joe with State Title Trophy

With thoughts of stepping down creeping into his mind the past few seasons, Erie Cathedral Prep’s winningest coach (214 victories), Mike Mischler, gave himself till February of 2022 to decide what to do after the 2021 season ended.  He actually resigned three weeks ago, but was asked to reconsider.  He agreed to do so, but eventually came to the same conclusion.  “I just feel it’s the best time for me personally and the best time for our program,” stated Mischler, “We have a really good football team coming back and I just want the next guy, whoever that may be, to achieve at the highest level.”  He later added, “I don’t want to regret coaching too long.”  Coach Mischler has 231 career wins as he coached at Iroquois too.

Mischler said there was no single reason that went into his decision, although spending more time with his wife and family factored into it.  “My wife just gave a kidney to my sister a couple of weeks ago.  That gave me time to sit and hold her hand and look into her eyes and hear her heart,” Mischler conveyed.  In addition, he will now be able to watch his son play quarterback for Duquesne University.  He also cited, without being specific, how things are different today and how many things have changed over the years.  He said there are things that he just has a hard time keeping up with.

Asked to summarize his career, Coach Mischler said this, “My career has been defined by the relationships I have built with my players long term and the memories I have from those relationships.  It’s easy to point to the state championships, but it’s those relationships you build that really have an impact on people and have an impact on you.”

Coach Misch doesn’t have a favorite team that he coached but said they all were unique and he just won’t pick out one or even two.  He has many fond memories, but can’t single one out because there are so many.  One of his most transforming memories though was watching how Ian Malesiewski, who broke his neck wrestling, motivate an entire community by how he took on the challenge of his paralysis.  Ian was in the class of players that went to the state finals four straight years.  Mischler said one of his saddest memories was when he lost one of his best friends who was on his coaching staff.  Jeff Bomba died unexpectantly in 2018 the same year Mischler’s dad passed away.

When asked what he would miss about coaching, Mischler stated, “this is going to sound weird, but I’m going to miss the bus rides back to the stadium, the smell of the bus (he laughed), and the chatter of the kids after a game.  I’m really going to miss the relationships, the opportunities to make a difference.”  When asked what he will not miss about coaching Coach Mischler let out a hearty laugh and said, “that’s a hard one, I could rattle off about 50 things, but I will say I am not going to miss the long hours away from family.”

One of his current players, Carter Barnes, said on twitter, “thank you Coach Misch for being a great person, coach, and mentor for me.  Thanks for all the long talks about football and life in general.”  Young Mr. Barnes no doubt reflects the sentiment of past and current players who had the pleasure of having Mike Mischler, a future hall of famer, as head coach.  When Mike Mischler was hired to be the head football coach at Erie Cathedral Prep, no one could have known how things would turn out.  Eight championship game appearances and five state titles later the Rambler community is saddened at losing a coach of Mischler’s caliber and ability, but those many positive memories he gave them over the years will last a very, very long time.

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