On Tuesday, Athens Superintendent Craig Stage announced that Head Football Coach Jack Young was going to retire after 22 seasons on the sidelines for the Wildcats.
Young led the Wildcats to six Northern Tier League Championships and a District IV title in 2004.
“There was so much going on that year (2004). We opened a brand new stadium. We went 9-1 in the regular season and beat a really good young Montoursville team in the first round. Then we beat a defending AAA Shamokin team that year. That atmosphere was amazing in both games. We had a special group of kids and it was a lot of fun coaching them.”
The very next year they were 9-1 again but didn’t make the District playoffs that year. “There were four teams that made the playoffs that year and we didn’t. I thought we had a team that could compete that year. Montoursville went on and won the District title in 2005.”
Young coached the Big 33 team in 2021.
“When I was selected to coach, I knew the history of the Big 33 and I have been close to the Big 33 game. I came to Hershey a number of years and was involved. My father also coached in the game and it was really special to coach the game. I cherished the friendships I developed with the other players and coaches. It was something I will never forget it.”
His team finished the 2022 season, 7-5. Jack retires as the winningest coach at Athens. He leaves with a 156-88 record.
For the first time this fall, Athens won’t have Jack Young on the sidelines. We asked him what he is looking forward to about his retirement.
“The biggest thing I am looking forward to is time with my family. I have a new title I gained about three years ago, and that is a grandfather. I am an executive assistant to a three and half-year-old girl and I know she will keep me busy.”
“The thought of quiet Friday nights, I won’t lie, it’s going to be a little scary. I was talking to one of my coaches the other day about not being on the sidelines and wow I am 55 years old and I have not been part of a football program. I was on my father’s sidelines when I was 6/7 years old and it’s going to be a little scary. But I think I am going to be able to figure it out.”
Thank you coach for 22 years at Athens!
