The Southern Alleghenies Football Coaches Association celebrated the 2010 high school season with its annual banquet at the Richland firehall.
The Coach of the Year honors were presented to Tony Penna Jr. of Greater Johnstown in the South and Don Bailey of Forest Hills from the North.
A first-year coach, Penna led the Trojans to a 10-2 season and a District 6 Class AAA championship, the second straight for Johnstown.
“I was pretty composed when I was at the banquet, but my heart was racing after I found out I was named Coach of the Year,” Penna said. “I did not know I would win because there were so many coaches that had good seasons like those from Berlin, North Star and Conemaugh Township. It could have been anyone. It’s in the back of your head, but you couldn’t predict it. I wasn’t prepared for it, but I was really excited.”
Bailey, who coached his 37th season for the Rangers in the fall, led Forest Hills to a 13-2 mark. The Rangers were the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference champs and earned the District 6 Class AA crown, the ninth in the school’s history, before advancing to the PIAA Final Four where they were eliminated by state runner-up South Fayette.
“This is an honor for Forest Hills, not just for Don Bailey, and was made possible by the Forest Hills coaching assistants and the players,” the venerable Bailey said about being selected coach of the year.
Bailey said that his team’s achievements came about through the hard work and dedication of his upperclassmen as well as the high-level of performances from some of the Rangers younger players.
“This team showed plenty of character after losing in the 10th game, coming back and working harder especially when we started to have players go out with sickness and injuries,” Bailey said. “We circled the wagons and truly were a team that worked together to achieve our success.”
Penna was especially thrilled to get the opportunity to coach in this summer’s Ken Lantzy Finest 40 All-Star Game.
“I love this game and to be able to coach my kids one last time in the Ken Lantzy game is just great,” Penna said. “I can’t wait until June.”
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