Christopher Dock coach Ed Molnar calls it a career
It was only one of the thousand games where coach Ed Molnar brought his lineup to home plate prior to a baseball game. But as the Christopher Dock skipper went to exchange pre-game words with the day’s opposing coach, the unexpected familiarity with the fellow added a unique and special twist to the afternoon.
It did not take long for Molnar to realize his newest opponent was once a player for the veteran coach. It was small instances like those that reinsured Molnar his years coaching baseball were accomplishing what he sHW RuW GR whHn hH firsW JRW into the role.
“Some guys in North Coventry Township were des- perate for a coach,” Molnar said. “I was a young guy and never had done it before. It was more so they needed help and I found out I enjoyed it.”
6LnFH WhDW firsW FRDFhing job Molnar took with NorChester American Legion team, he has seen a number of his pupil’s became coaches, become umpires and play at the collegiate level. Molnar may not have always been the most visible presence in the Harleysville community, but has been deeply involved with baseball in the area ever since moving in 1967 with his wife.
“The teams I have coached over the years have been involved with 21 different championships,” Molnar said. “I had around a .700 winning percentage over all the years that I coached.”
Molnar has coached in the Harleysville Connie Mack and Little League, the Souderton Area School District and his most recent gig, as the varsity coach for Christopher Dock. After three years with the Pioneers, Molnar has decided to hand his lineup sheets over the next generation of coaches for good. In mid-July Molnar informed Christopher Dock of his retirement from coaching.
“It was tough making the decision to retire,” Molnar said. “I am 72 years old and that was the main reason. I still have a lot of energy left in me, but I just felt it was going to happen sometime and this year was the year I decided to do it.”
,n hLs firsW sHDsRn wLWh WhH Pioneers, Molnar managed to achieve the highlight of a lifetime when he won the PIAA Class A championship. The level of talent on the team, led by Ryan Seiz and Brandon Reichart, was off the charts, but what made the 2010 season really special was having grandson, Matt Sharayko, on the squad.
“I knew just about all of the kids on the team because I followed them up with my grandson,” Molnar said. “The state championship GHfinLWHOy hDs WR EH DW WhH precipices. Whatever the age group I had I enjoyed, but that was my greatest accomplishment.”
While the wins were wonderful, Molnar found that the life lessons he could teach as a coach is what kept him in the dugout for decades. Molnar was also proud of the contributions he was able to make, such as the outfiHOG IHnFH DnG sFRrHERDrG he helped Christopher Dock add in 2011.
“Winning is one thing I was always striving for, but there is a lot more to life than winning,” Molnar said. “I tried to stress the other important things in life, like respect for the other players, coaches and umpires.”
It was Molnar’s second love, banking, that helped him take his relationships from Harleysville Savings BDnN WR WhH EDOO fiHOGs. Molnar was the president and CEO for 40 years and still is the Chairman of the Board.
“There are a lot of things in life that are important,” Molnar said. “I have always come with the attitude that I am blessed in a lot of ways and I want to give back. My business connections have helped me give back to the baseball community and that is very satisfying.”
Even though Molnar no longer has the commitment of coaching a team full time, there is no doubt you still wLOO EH DEOH WR finG 0ROnDr DrRunG WhH EDOO fiHOGs. (G Molnar is what they call a baseball lifer.
“I would not mind helping some of the younger kids out around Harleysville,” Molnar said. “I can help them with some of the skills I have learned over the years. I’m not ready to just sit in the rocking chair yet.”