MOUNT CARMEL — The Mount Carmel Area school board will likely open head football coach Carmen DeFrancesco’s job at this week’s meeting, according to board President Thomas Ditchey.
Ditchey, reached Monday to comment on tips brought to The News-Item by several sources, said, “Right now, it’s a possibility (the position will be opened). We haven’t finalized the agenda yet, but I don’t want anybody to be surprised.”
Sources have told The News-Item that Berwick High School athletic director and former Wilkes University football coach Frank Sheptock, a Kulpmont native and Mount Carmel graduate, will be offered the dual post of athletic director and head football coach, with present athletic director Greg Sacavage reassigned as assistant athletic director and assistant to the elementary school principal.
“That’s another rumor that’s out there,” Ditchey said, referring to the Sheptock-Sacavage scenario. “Everybody is throwing things around. We should be worried more about education. We worry a little too much about athletics. I understand there are some parents who aren’t satisfied, but that’s always going to be the case. Coaches put in a lot of hours. My personal opinion is that I always try to stay out of that.”
Calls to DeFrancesco, Sheptock and Sacavage were not returned Monday.
Ditchey said if the action is on the agenda for Thursday’s meeting, he would vote against it.
“My vote would be to not open the position,” Ditchey said. “I can’t speak for the rest of the board but I don’t have any problem with Coach Carm. But if some other board members wish to put that on the agenda, I’d have to go along with it.”
DeFrancesco recently completed his fifth season as head coach of the Red Tornadoes, posting a 7-4 record. His overall record in five seasons at Mount Carmel is 42-20, including a 12-2 record and District 4 Class AA championship in 2011.
The Red Tornadoes have reached the postseason in all five of DeFrancesco’s seasons at the helm. His overall coaching record, with head coaching jobs at five schools — Cardinal Brennan, Danville, Shamokin, Upper Dauphin and Mount Carmel — is 152-98.
Although DeFrancesco has never won fewer than seven games at Mount Carmel, the 2014 team drew criticism for its three regular-season losses — Selinsgrove, Southern Columbia and North Schuylkill — in which the Red Tornadoes gave up 61, 55 and 53 points, respectively. Overall, Mount Carmel gave up 336 points in 11 games.