It can be said of some people that they
were born to coach. To Karl Florie, coaching high school football
was natural. In 1966 Karl began as an assistant coach at
then Northwestern High School. He became an assistant at Beaver
Falls under coaching legend
Larry Bruno,
where he stayed until 1972. Karl then received his opportunity to
become head coach at Riverside High School in 1973, but his beginnings were anything but auspicious
(the Panthers lost their first 15 games). But the foundation had been laid
for a successful program: Riverside appeared in
the WPIAL AA playoffs and won two Midwestern Athletic Conference
championships from 1981 to 1985. The Panthers lost to Beaver Falls in the
1984 finals but came back the following year to capture the WPIAL
title. Karl was named Dapper Dan Coach of the Year for that 1985
season. Karl resigned from Riverside after the 1986 season, but when
the Ellwood City head coaching position came open, the strong desire
to bet back on the field was too much to resist. In 1987, the
Wolverines reached the WPIAL AA finals before losing. Karl
resigned after the 1989 season due to health reasons. Among his
honors are Big 33 Coach in 1984, Penn-Ohio All Star Game coach in
1980 and 1987, and WPIAL AA Coach of the Year in 1985. Karl’s
overall coaching record is 114-63-3, which is even more impressive
considering the 0-15 start.
It can be said of some people that they
were born to coach. To Karl Florie, coaching high school football
was natural. In 1966 Karl began as an assistant coach at
then Northwestern High School. He became an assistant at Beaver
Falls under coaching legend