By Sean Moylan, Sports Editor
ALLENTOWN A wedge is not only a blocking play in football, it’s what Allentown High Athletic Director Brian Irwin would like to jam into what has become a revolving door of coaches at his program.
When the Allentown High varsity football team takes the field in 2010, it’ll have its fourth different coach in as many seasons, after action last week by the school board. But if Mr. Irwin has his way, folks in the area will get used to seeing Jay Graber’s face for a long time.
”The revolving door has to stop,” Mr. Irwin said. “You cannot build a program when you have to continuously change coaches. Hopefully, he will be here for 20 years or longer.”
Mr. Graber appreciates the support, but his matter-of-fact personality still won out.
”Oh, man, let me get through the first month first,” he said with a laugh.
Mr. Graber is not new to Allentown or the area.
He coached the Allentown High freshman team to an undefeated (9-0) season this past fall. Going back into the 1990s, he played for a very successful Allentown Pop Warner program. However, he played his high school football at Notre Dame.
Mr. Graber’s matter-of-fact personality should make for a smoother transition. His playing career is over. His coaching career is now.
”I don’t look (at coaching at Allentown) as being strange at all,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity. The people at Allentown have been great to me.”
So when John Amabile resigned as the football coach in late December, Mr. Graber put his name into consideration for the varsity head coaching job.
According to Superintendent of Schools Richard Fitzpatrick, the district created a committee of administrators, students and parents to discuss what they were looking for in a coach. Current Allentown High players were asked to rate their experience in the program, the ability to improve their own skills, if they have the support of the administration, support of their parents, support of the fans, etc.
”He (Mr. Graber) inspires kids to play to their capacity,” Dr. Fitzpatrick said while announcing Mr. Graber’s selection as coach at the Feb. 3 Board of Education meeting. “He knows football from inside out. (He has a) true connection with every player.”
One of the main reasons for Mr. Graber’s ability to connect with the players is he’s not that far removed from being one himself. He just turned 25 in January.
”He can connect with the kids, but I also think he’s beyond his years,” Mr. Irwin said. “What he knows at his age to be as polished as he is is pretty amazing.”
But Mr. Graber knows he doesn’t know everything about football.
”I may not have all the answers, but hopefully I can surround myself with people who do,” said Mr. Graber, who is in the process of putting together a coaching staff.
He and his staff will try to bring stability to the program. Then they will see what they can do about putting together the first winning varsity football season at Allentown in more than 40 years.
”He’s in a unique position to take over a program, to help build it,” Mr. Irwin said.
”He’s passionate about the game. He’s someone that makes sure the kids do the right thing on and off the field. He’s someone that could be here for a long time.”
Just let him get the first month out of the way before making any plans for 2030 or beyond.