For Boyertown football coach Mark Scisly, it was a decision as tough as whether to go for it or punt on fourth and short.
To remain coaching the Bears, as he has done for the past six seasons.
Or to move on to a new opportunity at a new program.
In the end, Scisly decided to take the vacant job at Northampton High School and attempt to rebuild the Konkrete Kids program.
According to the Allentown Morning Call, he was approved as football coach by the school board in a 7-0 vote Monday night.
“It was a better situation for my family,’ said the 35-year-old Scisly, who lives in Emmaus and is a teacher in the East Penn School District. “It’s closer to home. I live in the Lehigh Valley and teach in the Lehigh Valley, so it’s a better situation.
“It’s a new opportunity to get a chance to build another program in a good, quality football conference. Northampton has a rich history of football. I coached there as an assistant in 2003, so I’m familiar with the program and looking forward to the challenge.’
Scisly succeeds Jeff Brosky, who compiled a 2-21 mark in two seasons at Northampton. The Konkrete Kids went 0-12 last season. Ironically enough, Scisly’s finale at Boyertown wound up being a 50-28 victory over Northampton last November.
A player and later assistant coach at Ursinus College, Scisly served as head coach at Salisbury for four years before taking over at Boyertown in 2008.
He guided the Bears to a 37-33 mark over six seasons (26-26 in Pioneer Athletic Conference play), highlighted by a 10-2 campaign in 2010, when the Bears shared the league title with Owen J. Roberts.
Last year, the Bears finished 5-4 in league play and 7-4 overall — featuring an offense led by fullback Cody Richmond, quarterback Griffin Pasik, wideout Nick Brough and tight end Tyler Zilen that set school records in virtually every offensive category.
“It was a memorable six years,’ said Scisly, who submitted his resignation Monday night and informed the team Tuesday afternoon. “I enjoyed working with the kids, the faculty and the administration. Matt (AD Madison Morton) was great to work for, and I met a lot of great people on the way.
“It was a tough decision to leave. I feel like I’ll always been a Bear and take a lot of pride in the program. But it was time to move on. I have nothing to complain about; I’m leaving on good terms. I wish everybody the best and hope the program does well in the future, because they have great kids, great people, great players and they’re in a great league.’
Scisly’s departure means that there will be no fewer than five new coaches presiding over area programs next year, with Phoenixville, Upper Perkiomen, Pope John Paul II and Hill School also in the process of hiring successors for departed head coaches.
