MINERSVILLE — Pat Mason’s tenure as Minersville’s head football coach is officially over.
The Minersville Area School Board voted 6-3 on Tuesday to open the position for the 2016 season. Mason was in the audience during the vote.
The board did not discuss the matter prior to voting, but gave the public a chance to comment early in the meeting. Voting in favor of opening the position were board members Michael Naradko Sr., Al Marazas, Scott Hunyara, Gretchen Ulmer, Robert Keifer and board president Al Wank. Voting “no” were Sarah Newton, Christopher Bentz and Kevin Wigoda, all who declined to comment after the vote.
Wigoda, Marazas, Hunyara and Naradko serve on the athletic committee that recommended the position be opened. The athletic board could have recommended to the board to keep the current coach or to open the position.
Mason resigned Nov. 10 after learning the position would be opened. He had been the Miners’ head coach for 13 seasons.
“We don’t have to accept his resignation because all positions are open at the end of the year,” Wank said. “We had many discussions about this. We had to make a decision and now we have to move forward.”
Superintendent Carl McBreen said the position will be posted and remain open until Dec. 4, an extension from the prior date of Nov. 25. When asked why the time period was extended, McBreen said the district felt it necessary to do so.
Wank said Mason can “feel free to re-apply for that position.”
Mason said he is not going to do that.
“I appreciate the time I had here at Minersville,” Mason said. “The support I got from everybody was amazing.”
More than 100 people packed the Minersville High School auditorium Thursday, Nov. 19, during the board’s agenda meeting to voice their support of Mason.
Tuesday, roughly 60 people attended the meeting, with several people speaking in favor of retaining Mason as the Miners’ head coach.
“This is the right guy. You have him,” said Jamie Kuehn, a member of the Minersville Borough council who has a son on the team.
Mason said he wasn’t sure if he would remain in coaching, but he will continue teaching in the district. He teaches U.S. history, sociology and current events for students in grades 10-12. He wants to enjoy the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday with his family.
Mason compiled a record of 60-79 during his 13 seasons in Minersville. This season the team finished 1-9.
Minersville won the District 11 Class A title in Mason’s first year and reached the District 11 Class A semifinals in 2006. In 2007, the Miners lost to Marian in the Class A district final, then made it to the District 11 Class A semifinals in 2011. Since 2011, Minersville has had four straight losing seasons and an overall record of 9-31.
As they did Thursday, parents and students lauded the impact Mason had in the lives of his student-athletes.
Joe Davis, 31, a 2002 Minersville grad who played defensive end, admits the last few years have not been easy, but said Mason was always there for his players.
“I just want everyone to know he is a great person, a great coach,” he said.
One speaker said Mason inspires students.
“Coach Mason is a man who shapes boys into men,” Thomas Moran, 18, Minersville, a former offensive tackle, said.
Marcie Stoppie is the parent of a senior football player. She said Mason teaches life lessons of “teamwork, integrity, morals, ethics, sportsmanship, dedication, hard work and to never, ever give up.”
Those lessons are more important than wins on a scoreboard.
“These are the lessons and wins that matter in life,” she said.
Mike Farr, head football coach at Schuylkill Haven and the president of the Schuylkill County Football Coaches Association, was in the audience. He was there to lend support to a coach he called his friend.
Farr agreed that having a winning season is important, but winning can be found in other areas of life. The decision by the board is “not a very responsible thing to do,” he said, given the skills and knowledge that Mason has about the game and the school.
He spoke to Mason and told him the decision is up to the board and there isn’t much he could do about it.
“I’m extremely disappointed in the outcome,” Farr said.