North Hills Football Coach Jack McCurry Retiring After 35 Seasons

For the first time since 1978, someone other than Jack McCurry will lead the North Hills Indians onto the field at Martorelli Stadium next fall.

McCurry announced his retirement Monday night after 35 seasons that have included national, state, WPIAL and conference championships. Under Coach McCurry, the Indians had a record of 281 wins, 109 losses and 5 ties. Coach McCurry’s teams recorded 98 shutouts.

“I appreciate the opportunity that the district entrusted to me for the past 35 years. I have enjoyed serving as the Head Football Coach and hope that the North Hills Indians will continue to demonstrate success both on and off the field. I particularly want to thank all of the students athletes that played for me over the years and the assistant coaches for their support as our success was a direct result of their collective work,” said McCurry.

Our Newsletter subscribers heard this breaking news first.

McCurry's coaching career reached a high point when his 1987 team was ranked No. 1 in the country by USA today. His 1993 team won the PIAA State Championship.  Additionally, during McCurry’s tenure, his teams recorded 13 conference and one co-conference titles and captured WPIAL Championships in 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1993.

“Jack McCurry is an institution at North Hills School District. Thousands of student athletes and coaches have benefitted from his leadership, and through him, learned lessons of determination, perseverance and integrity, both on and off of the football field. I never imagined a day that our football program would be led by someone other than Jack McCurry. He will be missed,” said Dr. Patrick J. Mannarino, North Hills School District superintendent.

McCurry was inducted into the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. McCurry has won numerous Coach of the Year awards and is a member of the Edinboro University Athletic Hall of Fame, where he had an outstanding collegiate career earning All-American honors as a defensive safety and tailback.

“I speak for the entire North Hills Community when I say he, his coaches, and players provided us many memorable moments. With Coach McCurry at the helm, his teams, regardless of their talent level, felt when they took the field they had a chance to win,” said Dan Cardone, North Hills School District director of athletics and activities.

Beyond football, McCurry served the North Hills School District as a math teacher from 1974 until he was promoted to high school assistant principal in 1987, and high school principal in 1989 where he served as the educational leader of the building until his retirement in 2006. He resides with his wife, Beth, in Pine Township.

Do you know the coach? Did you play for him? Share your thoughts about Coach McCurry's career in the comments box below.

Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook

Check out some of today's other top stories here .