Legendary Prep football coach dies at 60

John Wagner, described by Andy Reid as “one of the best,” is remembered for more than football

By John Knebels

Coach “Wags” celebrates his 100th victory after the Prep defeated Bonner 27-0 on Oct. 27, 2007. Although battling cancer, he rallied back to successfully lead the team.

In most sports, both credit and blame are ultimately showered upon the head coach.

It’s part of the job description.

But ask any veteran coach and he or she will tell you that without top-notch assistants performing behind-the-scenes tasks before, during, and after the season, the chances for success are slim to none.

One of those top-notch assistants, John “Wags” Wagner, died July 11 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 60.

For the past 13 years, Wagner, a 1965 graduate of West Catholic High School, coached the St. Joseph’s Prep freshman team, culminating in his 100th career victory last Oct. 27. A large crowd of well-wishers ignored steady rain to pay tribute to a man that Prep head coach Gil Brooks said he never heard one negative thing said about.

In any walk of life, that’s rare. In football? With all of the grueling pre-season workouts and game-day situations that warrant unpopular substitution decisions? That’s almost impossible.

One person who believes that Brooks is not exaggerating is Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid.

Reached by telephone, Reid praised Wagner for having “helped turn boys into young men.” One of those young men was Reid’s son Spencer, a sophomore at the Prep who was coached by Wagner last fall.

“He was one of the best,” said Reid, who joined hundreds of mourners at both the viewing and funeral, both at the Gesu Church. “Coach Wags was the ultimate coach. He was always positive. It didn’t matter if you were a good player or a bad player. His players had all kinds of confidence because he was a great teacher, both of football and how to be a good person.”

Despite a brutal schedule of his own, Reid said he occasionally attended Prep practices and games. Reid appreciated what he witnessed from the stands and was also impressed with what his son told him at home.

The bottom line is that, like hundreds of parents over the years, Reid felt totally comfortable entrusting his son into Wagner’s care.

From a parent’s perspective, no compliment is better.

“There are all kinds of ways of getting results,” said Reid. “Everyone has their own way. Wags had his way. He was always under control, and the players really respected him. He gave so much of himself, and he was a great ‘starting coach’ for young players who eventually made their way up to play for Coach Brooks.”

On the popular Web site, tedsilary.com, a memorial page was established for Wagner. Many friends, colleagues and former players left beautiful tributes for someone fellow Prep assistant freshman coach John Howe said always made him and his wife Shell feel like family.

Longtime friend John Simpson recalled how Channel 10’s Vai Sikahema, a former NFL player and one-time Philadelphia Eagle, accepted Wagner’s request that he say a few words to the team. He labeled Wagner an “excellent leader” whom they should all listen to and follow. Simpson said one could tell that Wagner was “overwhelmed” by Sikahema’s kind sentiments.

John Connors, a 2002 Prep graduate and star athlete, labeled his freshman football season of 1998 “the best of my life for many reasons…but what really made that season special was Coach Wagner.”

A graduate of Harvard University, Connors said Wagner challenged the players to do “better than our best” and “most importantly, coached with a genuine love for each and every one of his players.” He said Wagner provided constant encouragement during the season and it would extend throughout the players’ football careers.

Eddie Turner, a 2000 Prep grad, said Wagner “left an indelible mark on my life as an athlete and a man for others” and said Wagner’s “desire to impart wisdom to and show genuine care for players was effortless and astonishing.”

Wagner was survived by his wife Mona, daughter, Kim Grosso, and sons, John and Steve, both Prep alums and former assistant coaches for their dad.

In the end, it was Connors who offered the ultimate tribute for Wagner.

“I am a better player having played for you,” he said. “I am a better man having known you. And I will always remember you as the greatest coach I ever played for.”
Enough said.

John Knebels can be reached at jknebs@aol.com.