MOUNT CARMEL — A new head coach will be directing the state’s winningest high school football program next season.
On a 7-1-1 vote Thursday night, Mount Carmel Area School Board opened the positions of head varsity football coach and weight room manager held by Carmen DeFrancesco for the past five years.
DeFrancesco, whose overall record at MCA was 42-20, including a 12-2 record and District 4-AA championship in 2011, spoke with the board at 5:30 p.m. for about 15 minutes, but was not present for the meeting that began at 7:20 p.m., 20 minutes after its scheduled start.
Efforts to reach the coach by telephone after the meeting were unsuccessful.
Approximately 25 people filled the small board room, including several of DeFrancesco’s assistant coaches and parents of current players. But only three citizens addressed the pending coaching change.
Richard Susnoskie of Mount Carmel told the board, “I think Carm did a heck of a job. He took the team to the playoffs all five years. The kids just aren’t as dedicated as they were back in the day.”
Susnoskie’s son, Matt Susnoskie of Atlas, also supported the outgoing coach.
“I believe firing Coach Carm is a mistake and will hurt the program,” he said. “The kids today aren’t as talented or big as they were years ago. We aren’t going to win any more state titles because we can’t compete with the teams ahead of us. I think the issue is with the coaching staff, not the head coach.”
Robert Mann of Mount Carmel, who has served as DeFrancesco’s personal assistant for the past five seasons, added, “I’ve never met a more dedicated and devoted coach than Carm. There is no finer person around to do the job. He puts his heart and soul into it and spends countless hours coaching the kids.”
Board president Thomas Ditchey thanked the public for their comments prior to the vote.
Voting to open the coaching position were directors Ray Kraynak, Michael Rovito, Michael Brinkash, Bill Brecker, Robert Muldowney, Tony Mazzatesta and Joseph Zanella. Donna James, whose husband Joe James is an assistant football coach, abstained. Ditchey, who previously said he has no problem with DeFrancesco, cast the lone dissenting vote.
The seven board members who voted in favor of opening the position declined comment to the media after the meeting.
The board voted 8-1 to open DeFrancesco’s position as weight room manager, a post traditionally held by the head football coach. Ditchey again was the lone board member against opening the position.
Both motions were made and seconded by Kraynak and Rovito, respectively.
The board must advertise within the district for the head coaching position for 10 days before seeking applicants from outside the district.
DeFrancesco can reapply for the position, but that’s unlikely to happen.
Board members did not indicate when a new coach would be hired.
The board’s annual reorganization meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, at Northumberland County Career and Technology Center. A special meeting would have to be called to hire a new coach before the end of the year.
The Red Tornadoes posted a 7-4 record in 2014. DeFrancesco’s 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 Area, the 2014 team drew criticism for its three regular season losses to 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.