De-lightful season

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Tom DeFelice sits in the rec room of his Glen Mills home surrounded by division championships, coach-of-the-year awards and numerous other accomplishments. When the high school football and baseball coach is asked how many Public League football division championships he has won in his 13 seasons at Bok, he takes a quick look around and responds, "11."

The most recent came in 2005, when the Wildcats won the AAA Division crown. Add a second straight trip to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association AAA tournament and DeFelice stands out as the Review’s 2006 Coach of the Year.

The 59-year-old, who has compiled an 81-42-1 record as the Wildcats’ head football coach, shares the credit with everyone – from players to administration.

"The coaches and kids themselves put in a lot of hard work and dedication," DeFelice said. "There is a bull’s-eye on our jersey and it seems the coaches step up and the players step up. We feel very fortunate to be successful in terms of winning and losing."

At practices and games, DeFelice has a strong supporting cast of coaches with Frank "Roscoe" Natale, Greg Frangipani, Lloyd Jenkins and Vince Trombetta. Add a roster of more than 40 players and it creates a winning formula.

"I just feel very fortunate that we have great camaraderie among the coaches and players," DeFelice said.

It showed in October, when Bok traveled to 29th and Chambers streets in North Philadelphia to face Ben Franklin for the league’s AAA championship. Both teams entered with identical 7-0 records, which included a 3-0 mark in league play. Ben Franklin’s offense was averaging 33 points per game, but DeFelice had his defense ready. The Wildcats kept the Electrons out of the end zone in the 14-0 victory. It was a season highlight for DeFelice, originally of Eighth and Christian streets.

"The Ben Franklin game was a throwback to old-time football," he said. "We were away in a packed house with the sidelines flowing with people."

The coach said players from 20 to 25 years ago showed up for the game.

"I am so proud that the kids played like that on foreign soil," he said. "The kids really rose to the occasion."

BOK FOOTBALL PLAYERS are so accustomed to winning that they routinely wear team garb in the school hallways. For DeFelice, Bok’s department head for health and physical education, it brings a smile to his face.

"When they’re wearing their jackets or jerseys with their names on the back, it shows a sense of pride," he said. "A lot of times it makes me feel proud that they want to wear them."

DeFelice started out as a business major at Temple University, with thoughts of being an insurance salesman and coaching on the side.

But Joe DiDomenic, who was Ben Franklin’s head football coach at the time, advised him education and teaching would be a better path. "You’re not going to be able to coach if you are in business," DeFelice recalled DiDomenic saying.

DeFelice changed his route, getting into coaching right out of college. In 1969, he got his first job as a health and physical education teacher at Alcorn Elementary, 32nd and Dickinson streets. He also worked at Temple for two years as the freshman football backfield coach and varsity scout. He then spent some time as an assistant football coach at alma mater West Catholic, as there were no openings on Charlie "Pops" Guida’s Bok staff.

In ’72, DeFelice became head baseball coach at Bok and, six years later, got involved with the football program as a junior varsity coach with Fran Lerro. In ’93, DeFelice replaced Guida as Bok’s varsity football coach. Several winning seasons and division titles soon followed, including in ’99 when Bok advanced to the Public League championship game, but lost to Germantown.

Victories are always great, but DeFelice, who is also a college basketball official, aims to get much more out of his players.

"Between the ages of 14 and 20, your whole life is molded," he said. "I am preparing them for facing life as adults."

DeFelice’s wife, Grace, who he started dating during his high school sophomore year, also has a hand in educating youths. She is a secretary at Fels Elementary School, but, more importantly, "she is my best friend without a doubt," DeFelice said.

Their daughter, Natalie, followed in their footsteps as a teacher in the Philadelphia school system and son Chris is a football coach at Dobbins and officiates college basketball and lacrosse games. Their other son, Gregory, took the business career path, working in Atlanta, Ga.

Come August, DeFelice will be ready for his next challenge. The 11th-and-Bigler complex is getting a makeover, forcing teams elsewhere. Bok will be without a home field, practicing at Seventh Street and Packer Avenue, and playing home games on Bartram’s field, 58th Street and Elmwood Avenue.

"We are trying to be as upbeat as we can about the transition," DeFelice said.

The scenario certainly hasn’t scared any players away, as 43 came out for spring training.

"I never denied anybody the opportunity to participate," DeFelice said. "Twenty to 30 years from now, I don’t want anybody to say that Mr. D didn’t give me the opportunity to participate."

As a result, those former players are still coming back to cheer on the ‘Cats. Some have even made donations so team members can have their names put on jerseys.

The only thing missing is a state tournament victory, but, for now, the coach continues enjoying life as one of the Public League’s top football coaches.

"I am thrilled by the opportunity our players have been given to represent Philadelphia in the state tournament," DeFelice said.

Runners-up

Dan Brinkley,
Prep Charter boys’ basketball
The 2005 Coach of the Year made a strong case for a repeat, guiding the Huskies to 28-5 overall and, most importantly, the PIAA AA state championship. With the 82-51 win over Beaver Falls, Prep Charter became the first Philadelphia Public League School and District 12 representative to win a state title. With four of five starters expected back next season, Brinkley will be looking for a second go-round.

Chip Reitano,
Neumann-Goretti girls’ basketball
Reitano took this program to a place it hadn’t seen since the early 1980s – the Philadelphia Catholic League championship game. It marks huge progress for the Saints, who finished 0-12 in Catholic League play during the 2003 season. After making the playoffs in ’05, Reitano guided Neumann-Goretti to playoff wins over Archbishop Carroll and Wood, before losing to Cardinal O’Hara in the championship match.

John Hecker,
CAPA softball
In 2005, the Pegasus arrived on the Public League scene as a first-year varsity program. This year, the South Broad Street squad made tremendous strides by winning the city’s AAA title, advancing to the Public League semifinals and representing Philadelphia in the PIAA AAA state tournament.