Carmen Libertore

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Carmen Libertore, an outstanding athlete from Pennsylvania’s legendary coal region, starred for Hazleton High as a guard for two years. He followed with four years of varsity football at East Stroudsburg University, 1938-42.

From 1942 until 1945, Carmen served with the U.S. Armored Division, 124th Armored Engineers, being honorably discharged in 1945 as a Tech Sergeant.

In 1946, Libertore started teaching at Clifton Heights High School in Clifton Heights, Pa. He served as a social studies teacher and assistant football coach.

In 1954, Carmen became head coach, assisted by Mike DeNoia. During the next four-teen years, Carmen developed two undefeated football teams, in 1959 and 1960. These were the first in the history of the school. His 1959 team led all Delco schools in scoring with a total of 317 points, an average of 35.2 points per game. They also ranked second defensively, yielding only 66 points, or an average of 7.3 points per game. His 1960 team rang up an 8-0 season, scoring 232 points to their opponents 52.

In 1959, Libertore was named the Upper Darby News, “Coach of the Year.” He served as high school principal at Clifton from 1965 until 1968. He was then appointed supervising principal in the Clifton School District and served in that capacity from 1968 until 1972. In September, 1972, when Clifton School District merged with the Upper Darby School District, Libertore was named Director of Personnel. In June of 1981, Libertore retired and is, as he characterized it, “just enjoying life” now.

In 1970, Libertore was inducted into the “1940’s All-Star Team,” East Stroudsburg University; in 1986 he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, Delaware County Chapter; in 1992, he was inducted into the Delco Athletes Hall of Fame.