Baptiste "Bap" Manzini

Baptiste "Bap" Manzini (1965-1980)

119-36-1 overall record (.766 wining %)

WPIAL runner-up (1971)

WPIAL Champions (1980)

4 Conference Champions (1967, 1968, 1969, 1971)

To say that he was a real "character" in the mold of old school coaches like a Woody Hayes, a Bo Schembechler, or a Frank Kush is pretty appropriate.

Prior to his arrival at Thomas Jefferson, the Jaguars' football record was a cumulative 16-39-2.

He was able to establish a legacy at TJ that continues to this day as his former players and coaches still are active as assistant coaches with current head coach Bill Cherpak.

Bap spent 16 years as head coach at TJ accumulating 114 victories during his tenure.

He never had a losing season at TJ as a head coach, won the WPIAL AAA championship in 1980 and was a runner up in 1971.

In addition, he had several unbeaten seasons as head coach at Bellmar (High School) and several years at TJ, where the loss of one game kept the Jaguars from the championship.

Bap was an All-American selection in 1942 at St. Vincent (College), was drafted by and played for the Philadelphia Eagles, and was a head coach at St. Vincent, Bellmar and TJ.

He assisted at Elizabeth Forward, Belle Vernon and Yough.

He also coached baseball for a time.

His "gruff" exterior on the outside masked a man who was very much the opposite on the inside.

I learned this through many of our long, private conversations in his office when I was his assistant and a young head coach in the '80s.

He was a firstrate story teller and one always felt that you were learning something important when you were around him.He was well respected by his coaching peers, whether it be on the high school or college level.

He was a "man's man."

Bap is a part of every player that ever wore a uniform for a team he coached.

*source: George Wilson and The South Hills Record

Assistant Coaches:

William Weir

Jim Currie

John Rapchack

Jim Hoffman

Tim Lee

Ralph Arrigo- Line

Assistant under Bap Manzini for five years, coached at Norwin and Bentworth before joining the Jaguars. Became the head coach at Burgettstown in 1970. Led them to an undefeated season in 1973, which was first time Burgettstown made the playoffs in 28 years.