Dick Purnell is a 1954 graduate of Ashland High School where he was class valedictorian and earned 13 varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball and track. He went on to attend Susquehanna University and was a four year letter winner at quarterback, serving as team co-captain in his final two years – earning Little All-American honors as a senior in 1957, and all-state his last two seasons.
Earned his bachelor’s degree from Susquehanna in 1958 and his master’s degree from Bucknell University in 1967. Following graduation from Susquehanna, he played quarterback for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League for one year. Soon after, he became a mathematics teacher and football coach at the future Shikellamy High School in Sunbury, PA – serving as head coach for 25 years and amassing a 167-94-5 record (.637). He guided teams to two Eastern Conference (1965, 67), four Eastern Conference Southern Division and nine Susquehanna Valley Conference Championships. His teams won 37-straight regular season games between 1964-68.
During the years he was not coaching at Shikellamy, he was an assistant coach at Susquehanna University for 17 years, including the team in 1991 that played in the Semi-Finals of the Division III National Championship.
Acknowledgements:
• 1967 – Inducted into Susquehanna University Sports Hall of Fame
• 1987 – Recognized for Outstanding and dedicated service to the Eastern Conference.
• 1987 – Inducted into the Pennsylvania Sport Hall of Fame, Jerry Wolman Chapter(Anthracite region).
• 2004 – Inducted into Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
• 2008 – Inducted into the Pennsylvania State Sports Hall of Fame.
• 2018 – Inducted into Susquehanna University Ring of Honor
• 2024 – Inducted into the PIAA District 4 Football Coaches Hall of Fame
• 2025 – Received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Football Foundation
Dick and his wife, Mary Jane have two sons-Rick and Bill – and five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Other facts:
• Played for Amos Alonzo Stagg Jr and Sr at Susquehanna University.
• Was part of the inaugural SU Ring of Honor including other former coaches Amos Alonzo Stagg Jr and Sr, Jim Garrett and Bob Pittello.
by Bill Purnell
