Manzi steps down as Bishop McDevitt head coach after 34 seasons

After experiencing some thin years in recent memory the Bishop McDevitt football team ripped off an impressive run through the District One Class A and PIAA playoffs that ended with a quarterfinal loss to Old Forge in the state playoffs.

McDevitt head coach Pat Manzi has seen it all through thick and thin. Manzi has decided to hang up his coaching whistle after one of the better runs as McDevitt’s coach that ended on Dec. 6.

2015 marked a banner year in Manzi’s 34-year tenure as the head of Royal Lancer football. A tenure that is headlined by a coaching career that included 139 First Team All-Catholics, Philadelphia Catholic League championships in 1986, 1987, 1999, being a four-time Catholic League Coach of the Year, a District 12 championship in 2015, making the quarterfinals of PIAA state playoffs in 2015, being a member of the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame and be named Philadelphia Daily News 1980’s Coach of the Decade.

“Giving up coaching was not an easy decision, but my wife and I decided it was time for me to spend more time with my grandchildren attending their events,” Manzi said in a statement.

Manzi will stay involved with the McDevitt community, as he will retain his position as a teacher and Athletic Director.

“I will treasure my years of coaching at McDevitt and I look forward to cheering from the stands,” Manzi said.

There has been no replacement named speculation would presume the Lancers hire within as assistant coach Karl Stout took over for Manzi a year ago when he took a leave with health issue or Drew Gordon who joined the staff this season as the offensive coordinator that produced a high-powered McDevitt offense that put up massive points in its playoff run.

Whoever is selected as the next coach of the McDevitt football program will be taking over a program that in a strong a spot as its seen in while however taking over for a coach whose regime spanned over three decades might not be as easy.

“I was lucky to have such talented players, amazing assistant coaches and wonderful parents to work with,” Manzi said.