George Wilson

George Wilson (1984-1985)

6-14 (.428 winning %)

There have been a few things that have been synonymous with Thomas Jefferson Football since 1964, and one of those is George Wilson. As a graduate of the school in 1967, he began his love for TJ as a youngster attending games with his father. He first played under head coach Jerry Urda and then witnessed firsthand the rise of a football powerhouse under new coach Bap Manzini. As a player for the Jaguars he was a running back, tremendous team player, and student of the game. Wilson then went on to Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he earned his degree in 1971, and returned as a teacher and coach at Pleasant Hills Middle School. He worked his way on to Coach Manzini's staff at the high school level as an assistant during the 1977 campaign and was a big part of the successful teams and the 1980 WPIAL championship team. The year 1977 also saw assistants John Yogan and John "Hoppy" Mitruski join the staff. This trio, along with Keith Pancoast later on, would spend many years together until they retired in 2010.

Coach Wilson would take over the Jaguar program in 1984, after an 0-9-1 season the year before, and led them to a record of 5-5 with a huge win against #1 ranked Mount Pleasant to begin the season. He took the job after no other teacher or coach in the district came forward, and saw the importance of keeping the standards that were in place from the Manzini years. Wilson was diligent in work ethic with the players, but ended his coaching stint following a 1-9 season in 1985.

Wilson would resurface 5 years later as the defensive coordinator under new coach Jack Garrity, and would continue in this capacity for 20 years. His defenses employed an attacking style that rarely surrendered more than 10 points per game. He was a tactician and displayed his knowledge of past events by constantly quoting historical figures to make his points on the football field. Wilson did this even if the quote did not remotely relate to the point he was trying to make. The players who played for Coach Wilson will attest that he got the best out of them through intended or unintended humor, and his caring nature for the individual players. Wilson was a staple of the Thomas Jefferson Football program, and extremely popular amongst his players. The sidelines and the press box at Jaguar Stadium will never be the same without Coach Wilson, as there are few things that are so synonymous with TJ football, and George Wilson is one of those relics.