Former Penn-Trafford, Norwin football coach John Yaccino dies at 78

By: Paul Schofield
Thursday, March 21, 2019 | 7:09 PM

Former Penn-Trafford and Norwin football coach John Yaccino died suddenly in Florida on Wednesday. He was 78.

He was reportedly playing golf near his Ponte Vedra Beach home when he fell ill, according to Hazleton Standard-Speaker Sports Editor Dave Seamon.

Yaccino last coached in 1999 at Hazleton, where he was born. He compiled a 182-132-3 career record.

The 1958 graduate of Hazleton earned nine letters in football, track, basketball and baseball.

Yaccino rushed for 2,316 yards. He then attended Pitt and was named the Outstanding Player in the 1961-62 Syracuse game.

He signed with the New York Giants in 1962 and finished the 1963 season with the Buffalo Bills. He also signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Yaccino began coaching at Northern Bedford High School and then went to Hollidaysburg.

He coached at Penn-Trafford from 1988-96 and took the Warriors to the WPIAL playoffs five times.

He coached at Norwin from 1974-80 before moving to Texas. When he returned he brought the run-and-shoot offense with him.

“He was a great man and an even greater coach,” former Penn-Trafford player Ron Prady said.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Norwin, Penn-Trafford