Curry, state’s winningest coach, dies at 71

BERWICK >> George Curry, the winningest high school football coach in Pennsylvania history, has died, months after he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Berwick School District Superintendent Wayne Brookhart said he wasn’t told the exact cause of Curry’s death. He was 71.

Curry had 455 victories and coached the Berwick Bulldogs High School football team for decades.

He led the Bulldogs to six AAA state championships and was twice named USA Today’s High School Coach of the Year, in 1992 and 1995. He ranked in the top five in career victories nationally.

“He leaves a great legacy,” Brookhart said. “It’s a tremendous loss for the community, but his impact was felt statewide and nationally. He was a mentor and resource for coaches all over the United States.”

Curry retired in November, his 46-year coaching career ending with a 37-7 loss to Scranton Prep in the District 2 Class AAA championship game.

In February, Curry described his battle with ALS to the (Wilkes-Barre) Times Leader.

“I’m going to try to beat it,” he told the newspaper.

He said he was diagnosed during the past football season, but told only a few people about it. However, he said word of the disease spread quickly.

He had trouble standing at times late in the season, often sitting on a Gatorade cooler to coach. Curry also had to delegate coaching duties to his assistant coaches.

His once powerful voice had been reduced to a raspy whisper, a side effect of medication. During his last season’s games he used a voice amplifier— adevice with a small microphone attached to a speaker on his belt — so he could be heard.

“The voice is shot. I’m not as good with my movements,” Curry to the newspaper. “But the brain is sharp.”

He was due to conduct his annual quarterback camp in May.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Former Berwick coach George Curry retired in November. He died this week after a battle with ALS.