Joe McGlynn

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Joe McGlynn played three sports at St. John the Evangelist High School in Pittston during the 1946-1950 era when St. John’s fielded some of its finest teams. During this time, they had all winning seasons. He played left halfback on the football team, and the Johnnies were undefeated in his junior year. Also, as a junior, he was the high scoring forward. Joe was on the All-Conference Basketball Team in his senior year. He played in the outfield on the baseball team that won the Catholic League titles in 1948 and 1949. Joe was selected to be on the all-scholastic teams in the three sports—football, baseball, and basketball in his junior and senior years. A quote in the Wilkes-Barre Record called Joe one of the finest all-around athletes in the school’s history. After high school, Joe attended Georgetown University, but they dropped football in his freshman year. He enrolled in the University of Scranton where he played three sports on the varsity level. He was the starting quarterback and played offense and defense, and they had winning football seasons during this time. Ace O’Malley was quoted in the Wilkes-Barre Record as saying Joe’s punting marks were still on the books after many years. The Catholic Light advised that Joe was one of the finest signal callers to come from the University. Joe also played with the Pittston AC’s semi-pro baseball team. He also had offers to try out for the Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, and the Chicago Cubs. After graduation, he was hired as a teacher, head football coach, and assistant baseball and basketball coach at St. Francis Prep School in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania. He later became head coach in all three sports. Father Weider, athletic director, said Joe was the builder and founder of the sports program at St. Francis, and shortly after coming he had two undefeated football seasons. They played against highly regarded prep schools. He led the basketball team to back to back PCIAA Class C championships in 1968 and 1969. Many of his students went on to some of the major colleges and professional ranks. Joe’s thirty-three year tenure at St. Francis has been well recognized by not only the school, but the media in the York area. Joe has retired to the York area but is a frequent visitor to the Pittston area.