John K. Joseph

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During 4 years at GAR Memorial High School, John received 10 varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball; he captained and was All-Scholastic in all three in his senior year. In 1968, he received the Gentleman, Scholar, and Athlete Award and also played in the Unico Game. John played football and baseball at East Stroudsburg University, graduating in 1972. His coaching career started as assistant football and basketball coach at Wilkes-Barre Township Junior High School. He became head coach in football and basketball in 1973. His junior high basketball team won the league and playoff championship in basketball in 1978. In 1974, he became football varsity assistant and then in 1977 became first assistant coach and offensive coordinator. John was named head football coach at Coughlin High School in 1984, winning numerous championships. His teams were the first to win a post season title. He was coach during Coughlin’s 500^th football victory in 1987. John was Coach of the Year four times. He was inducted into the Coughlin High School Hall of Fame in 1997 and was named by Pennsylvania State Football Coaches Association as District II Coach of the Year in 1996. John received the Sportsmanship award in 1999 from the Wyoming Valley Football Officials. Accomplishments include Wyoming Valley Conference Champs, Eastern Conference Runner-up, and Eastern Conference Champs North Division. Coughlin won the District II AAA Championship four consecutive years. John is currently Athletic Director at Coughlin High. John married his childhood sweetheart, Suzann Challis. They reside in Wilkes-Barre and have five children: John II, Linda, Megan, Matthew and David.