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"Mr. High School Sports" - Greensburg C.C. Makes Surprising Coaching Change

By Matt Popchock

(mpopchock@kdka.com)

Last week we had a story that likely sent shockwaves throughout WPIAL basketball, and now we've got one that will likely do the same throughout WPIAL football.

One of the most successful bosses in recent memory, William "Muzzy" Colosimo, after 17 seasons and a winning percentage well over .700, is no longer the head football coach at Greensburg Central Catholic. Athletic director/defensive coordinator Dan Mahoney and former offensive assistant Matthew Federico will serve as interim co-coaches.

The Greensburg Diocese confirms Colosimo is still an employee of the school district, but that particular job has been mysteriously vacated just one week away from the beginning of two-a-days for local football teams. Neither he nor district officials have commented on the matter.

Greensburg Central Catholic finished the 2011 regular season 7-1 in the Interstate Conference and 8-1 overall, right behind conference champion Jeannette, which lost an epic WPIAL Final to Aliquippa. GCC, which ranked in the top five in its classification in both points-per-game and points-against average, was blanked by Aliquippa in the semifinals at Martorelli Stadium.

Previously, the third time at Heinz Field proved to be the charm for Colosimo, whose Centurions, after losing the 2005-06 WPIAL Football Championships to South Park and the arch-rival Jayhawks, respectively, stunned the Quips in 2009 for their first district title in modern history.

He ended his tenure with 143 wins, and would have had 144 if not for a disciplinary issue that kept him from coaching a 24-3 playoff-opening triumph over Ford City Fri., Nov. 4, 2011. He was suspended, at the time, for what was deemed an internal problem.

Colosimo also admitted to serving another suspension recently, the exact nature of which, again, is not known. It is also not certain, however, whether these punishments played a factor in the coaching change. In any event, it did not stop Colosimo from being permitted to lead GCC to victory in the Westmoreland County Coaches' Association 7-on-7 tournament last month.

It's tough to tell whether this strange development will have any effect on the long-term aspirations of the 2012 team, but once again, the Centurions, as was often the case under Colosimo, have the horses to contend in Class AA this year. They open their season at home, Fri., Aug. 31, against conference rival Washington.

(Follow me on Twitter @mpopchock.)

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