PSFCA Minority Coaches to have initial Minority Coaches Association meeting

Tagged under: News

Billy Splain | January 27, 2023

PSFCA Minority Coaches Association Meeting
Will take place Friday, Feb 10, 2023

In August of 2022 there was an article published in the Harrisburg “Patriot News” addressing the fact that there has never been a head coach of color in the prestigious ‘Super Bowl of High School Football’ The Big 33. This game is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association or PSFCA.

The Big 33 game remains one of the preeminent high school football games in America. Some of the most legendary players have played in this game. One phenomenal fact is that there has never been an NFL Super Bowl played without a Big 33 Alumni. This will continue through 2023 as all four remaining teams have a Big 33 Alum on their respective rosters.

However, what the article sparked was a conversation, a conversation that frankly was much needed. That conversation has begun with how can the PSFCA assist in the development of a statewide organization that will have an aim to be the advocate for the development of minority coaches, referees, and student-athletes. This group could embody all underrepresented groups, specifically women and Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) engaging in football in Pennsylvania. This organization should be created to prepare, promote, and produce the generation of football related careers in the state of Pennsylvania. The PSFCA has decided to create such a group.

In recent years, there have been various productive national minority coaches’ organizations created. The most recent being the National Coalition of Minority Coaches, founded by the University of Maryland’s Head Coach Mike Lockley in 2020. The organization is one of many across the nation that has been created to enhance the development of minority coaches.

Many states have also created their own coaching organizations. In recent conversations with Gary Cathell, director of the PSCFCA. PSFCA district directors Andrew Erby (Steel-High), Matt Ortega (Coatesville) and Andrew Moore (Brashear), Philadelphia Minority Coaches organizer Al Crosby (Neuman-Goretti), and Pittsburgh Black Coaches Association member Wayne Wade (Clairton) concluded there was a definitive need for a formal organization and expressed a strong desire for an initiative to create a statewide minority coaches association.

The first step in creating such an organization is to begin with an informational session or series of sessions to facilitate a dialogue amongst coaches from around the Commonwealth. The goal should not be to “re-invent the wheel” but to utilize existing organizational structures. This new organization will help Pennsylvania to continue to stay on the forefront of high school football.

Any questions about this initiative can be directed to Garry Cathell, PSFCA Executive Director, 1-724-747-1138.

PSFCA Minority Committee
Joseph C. Headen Sr.
Andrew Erby
Matt Ortega
Andrew Moore
Devon Johnson

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews