2012 Class SCFCA Hall of Fame

Inductees are: Joe Pilconis, Mahanoy Area; John Davis, Schuylkill Haven; Bill Schwalm, Williams Valley; Bill Kierlawich, Cardinal Brennan (at-large).

Coached football at Frackville, Mahanoy City, Mahanoy Area and Panther Valley for 32 years. As head coach he compiled a record of 118 wins, 94 losses and 15 ties. His 1962 Mahanoy Area team was undefeated. He was a founding father of the Schuylkill County Coaches Association. He was inducted into the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1988.

Graduated from Frackville High School in 1929, where he lettered in football, basketball, and track. Received an athletic scholarship to Temple University where he became an All American under legendary coach “Pop” Warner. Played 3 years with the Philadelphia Eagles as well as several semi-pro teams. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, Jerry Wolman-Northern Anthracite Chapter.

John Davis graduated from Nativity BVM in 1964 and attended Murray State University where he played offensive tackle for 5 years and earned a masters degree in Physical Education. He served 11 years as assistant coach at Schuylkill Haven until becoming the head coach in 1982 and compiling a record of 180-88-2. His 1982, 1985, and 1991 teams won Eastern Conference Championships while the “91” team captured the state title. His Hurricanes won District gold in 1994, 1998 and 2002. The 2002 squad wore the Anthracite 8 crown. He unexpectedly passed away prior to the 2005 season after serving as Schuylkill Havens health and physical education instructor for over 30 years.

Bill Schwalm is a Mahanoy Joint (now Line Mountain) graduate and three year football letter winner of West Chester University . He began his coaching career as an assistant at both Tri-Valley, and Bucknell University. During a 33-season stretch as head football coach at Tri-Valley, Halifax and Williams Valley High Schools, he won 163 games. At Halifax his team captured the 1981 Tri-Valley league championship. His Williams Valley squads won the 1999 Eastern Conference and 2001 Twin Valley titles.. He recently retired from coaching after spending the past four seasons as the Vikings’ offensive coordinator.

Bill Kirelawich is a Frackville native and from 1970-78 was head coach at Cardinal Brennan, compiling an overall 34-38-2 record. A linebacker at Salem College under current administrative assistant Donnie Young, he helped the Tigers to an 8-1 record as a senior captain and Top 20 NAIA ranking. His 89-yard interception return remains a school record.

Currently the defensive line coach at Arizona, he is the longest tenured coach in the history of West Virginia University, where he was responsible for recruiting many high school players from schools in the Southern Division of the Eastern Conference.
At West Virginia, he had the following coaching positions: 2003-11, defensive line; 2001-02, administrative assistant; 1991-00, defensive line; 1988-90, outside linebackers; 1980-87, defensive line; 1979: assistant.

He and his wife Maggie are the parents of three children: Miki, Billy and Jake.