HOMETOWN
Sometime over the winter, when the grind of the high school football season is over, Stan Dakosty will sit down and savor the moment.
The veteran Marian coach shoots for career victory No. 300 tonight when his unbeaten Colts host North Schuylkill in an Anthracite Football League clash at Men of Marian Stadium.
In his 39th season as the Marian head coach, the 63-year-old has had a career that most high school coaches can only dream about, filled with success stories on and off the gridiron.
His 299-141-3 mark includes 22 postseason appearances, six District 11 titles, four Eastern Conference crowns and the 1990 PIAA Class A state championship.
He’s produced more than 200 collegiate players, with some playing at the Division I level at schools like Penn State, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Army and Virginia.
An Associated Press Coach of the Year and the head coach of the 1992 Pennsylvania squad in the Big 33 Game, Dakosty will become only the 12th coach in Pennsylvania history to reach 300 career victories.
Yet ask the Shenandoah Valley High School and Lycoming College graduate about reaching the 300-win plateau, and he quickly changes the subject.
“I really don’t like talking about it,” Dakosty said Monday. “To me, it’s the fourth game of the season. I’m not trying to play ‘Joe Coach,’ but I haven’t even thought about it.
“It could take six weeks, it could take until next season (before I reach 300). For this squad, all the hard work they put in during the offseason was geared toward Week 4.”
It’s easy to understand why Dakosty is so focused on the Spartans.
The Colts dominated Williams Valley 35-7 in their opener, but struggled in the first half in wins over Panther Valley (27-6) and Minersville (40-20). The Spartans have played a tougher schedule, beating Tamaqua 20-14 before losing 24-20 to Blue Mountain and 33-13 to Lehighton.
Both clubs have dynamic quarterbacks in the Colts’ Ethan Kuczynski (425 yards, 6 TDs) and the Spartans’ Bobby Grigas (401 yards, 5 TDs) that can hurt defenses with their arms and their legs.
K.J. Snerr (56-379, 5 TDs) gives Marian an edge at running back, while North Schuylkill wide receiver Tevin Murray (9-118, 4 TDs) will pose a major threat to the Colts’ talented secondary.
Last season, the Colts opened the season 3-0 only to drop a 47-26 decision to the Spartans, who went on to win the league title. That defeat was followed by losses to Blue Mountain and Lehighton that not only knocked Marian out of AFL title contention, but put their District 11 playoff hopes in jeopardy.
The Colts rebounded to win their
final four games of the regular season and eventually reach the District 11 Class A title game, but Dakosty would like to avoid a repeat of last season.
“We battled North Schuylkill pretty evenly. It was a high-scoring game,” Dakosty said of last year’s meeting. “Blue Mountain, we were leading with a minute left. The only game we played poor in was Lehighton.
“So far (this season), we’ve beaten three really solid football teams. We have three big games coming up, three of the leading teams in the league, Double-A, Triple-A schools.
“We’re aware of the challenge. These are big games, AFL games, in front of big crowds.”
For Dakosty, big games are nothing new. His 443-game coaching career has been full of them.
Marian is 28-16 in postseason games under Dakosty, reaching the PIAA Class AA state semifinals twice — 1998 and 2000, losing to eventual state champion Mount Carmel both times — in addition to the magical 1990 state championship run.
Dakosty will be the first to tell you, however, that he’s had a lot of help along the way. He cites several reasons for his longevity as the Colts’ head coach.
“I really like where I teach and coach. Let’s start with that. I take a lot of pride in my teaching,” said Dakosty, who teaches 20th Century American history to juniors. “I have great students.
“I teach at the best high school in Pennsylvania, and I can say that from the bottom of my heart. I like to go to work every day. I believe in the mission of Marian High School and a good Catholic education.
“I would have never survived without my great group of assistant coaches, some of whom have been here for 30 years. We’ve been around each other a long time, we know what each other is doing and thinking. My assistants do a great job of making adjustments during games and bring stability to the program.
“And the caliber of athletes we’ve had at Marian … we have great kids. I constantly point out examples of kids from 25-30 years ago. Former players always stay in touch … we had two former players stop in the locker room before the Minersville game.”
Family is a very big part of Dakosty’s life. He credits his wife Mary, who he calls “his MVP,” for being at his side the past 39 years.
His son, Stan Jr., was an All-State quarterback and defensive back for the Colts’ 2000 club and is an assistant coach at Colgate University. Stan Jr. and his wife, Jess, live in Hamilton, New York, and have two children, 2-year-old Stan III and 6-month-old Nora.
Dakosty’s daughter, Kathy, is a teacher in Morristown, New Jersey. His mother, Jackie Dick of Shenandoah Heights, is Dakosty’s No. 1 fan and still comes to all of the Marian games despite being 84 years old.
“I have a great family,” Dakosty said. “Family comes first. My family, the Marian family, the Marian football family.”
Some time later this season, Dakosty will sit down with his family and reflect on his career.
He will become only the 12th coach in Pennsylvania history to reach 300 wins, an elite group that includes Berwick’s George Curry (449), Dunmore’s Jack Henzes (394), Southern Columbia’s Jim Roth (367), former Valley View coach Frank Pazzaglia (349), former Manheim Central coach Mike Williams (348) and former Selinsgrove coach Bill Scott (303).
For now, he’s as focused as ever, trying to guide the Colts to another championship. Tonight’s game against North Schuylkill provides his club with a sturdy test.
“I’ll sit back and enjoy it when the time is right,” Dakosty said. “Right now I’m focused on North Schuylkill. They’re too good of an opponent not to be.”
Dakosty File
Year Record Playoffs
1977 6-5
1978 6-4-1
1979 9-2
1980 12-1 EC Class B*
1981 11-2 EC Class B
1982 8-1-1
1983 6-5
1984 8-3
1985 11-1 D-11 A*
1986 13-0 EC Class B*
1987 5-6
1988 7-5 D-11 AA
1989 9-3 D-11 AA*
1990 13-1 PIAA A*
1991 6-4-1
1992 12-1 EC Class A*
1993 11-2 D-11 A*
1994 6-5
1995 3-7
1996 8-4 D-11 AA
1997 8-4 D-11 AA
1998 10-4 D-11 AA*
1999 7-4 EC Class AA
2000 12-2 D-11 AA*
2001 4-5
2002 7-4 EC Class A
2003 6-5 EC Class A
2004 5-5
2005 6-4
2006 11-2 D-11 A
2007 11-3 D-11 A*
2008 6-5 D-11 A
2009 3-7
2010 2-8
2011 5-5
2012 8-3 D-11 A
2013 7-5 EC Class A*
2014 8-4 D-11 A
2015 3-0
Total 299-141-3 (.682)
Playoff appearances: 22
Playoff record: 28-16 (.636)
*Championships won (11): 4 Eastern Conference titles, 6 District 11 titles, 1990 PIAA Class A state championship
Game Preview
North Schuylkill (1-2)
at Marian (3-0)
Players to watch: North Schuylkill — RB Pat Gownley; Marian — WR/DB Aaron DeAngelo
Storyline: Obviously, Dakosty’s quest for No. 300 takes center stage. Otherwise, this is a key game for North Schuylkill, which can’t afford to lose three straight. Controlling the line of scrimmage is big goal for both teams.
Last year: North Schuylkill 47-26