From West Allegheny to Mt. Lebanon, head coach Bob Palko continues to win
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (BVM) 鈥� Before becoming Mt. Lebanon鈥檚 head football coach in 2019, Bob Palko found unprecedented success at West Allegheny.
During his 24-year tenure from 1995 to 2018, Palko coached the Indians to three Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association 5A state championships and eight Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League titles, which was a record at the time of his departure. His best season was in 2001, when he won a state championship with his son, Tyler, at QB.
Also during his tenure, Palko coached four players (Tyler, CJ Davis, Dorin Dickerson, and Kirk McMullen) that would go on to spend time in the NFL for multiple seasons.
After accumulating an overall record of 217-70, a succession plan was put in place for Palko to retire after the 2018 season, have Kim Niedbala become the new head coach and for the former coach to transition to the college level.
However, Palko鈥檚 college ambitions fell through. After this, he became the top option for Mt. Lebanon鈥檚 athletic director John Grogan, who knew Palko as West Allegheny鈥檚 former director from 1997 to 2001. With this connection, Palko knew he had to take the job.
鈥淚 took that job and there were a couple of other guys that needed a job,鈥� Palko said, 鈥淪o it was a chance to go to a different spot and do what we need to do.鈥�
At the time of Palko鈥檚 hiring, Mt. Lebanon enrolled 651 male students in grades 9-11 compared to West Allegheny鈥檚 395 boys. Despite the disparity, the Blue Devils hadn鈥檛 won a WPIAL title since 2000 and never won a PIAA 6A championship in its history.
In his first two seasons, Palko鈥檚 squad combined for a record of just 11-8. However, progress was shown during the 2020 season as Mt. Lebanon made a WPIAL playoff appearance after a 4-2 regular-season record. While the Blue Devils were shutout 35-0 in the semifinals by Central Catholic, it was a step in the right direction.
During the process of building up the program, Palko said it took getting the system to work for everyone to buy-in.
鈥淚 think the number one thing was getting them to trust me,鈥� Palko said. 鈥淚n order for things to go right, the kids got to know that you trust them and you鈥檙e there for them.鈥�
鈥淭he second most important thing was getting the right coaching staff assembled and that you took a year or two to get the right staff.鈥�
The 2021 season would be a culmination of the work Palko and his squad put in.
Mt. Lebanon would start the season 14-0 as they made their way to the Class 6A state championship game. Along the way, Palko won his record-tying ninth WPIAL title, getting revenge on Central Catholic by a score of 47-7. The Blue Devils outscored opponents 547-155 during the stretch.
During the season, Palko will have his squad do the same pattern at practice on Monday and Tuesday and stresses keeping the same routines. With this type of consistency during the week, he says that they鈥檒l be prepared for anything during the game.
鈥淭here鈥檚 so much sudden change in football that once you get the kids in a good routine, they鈥檙e able to handle anything that happens during the game and not be shocked by it,鈥� Palko said.
After the 49-28 semifinal win over State College, however, Palko would get news that his close friend and former assistant at West Allegheny Mark Davis died.
The veteran coach went into his fourth state championship against three-time defending state champion St. Joseph鈥檚 Preparatory School coaching with a heavy heart, but his players pulled through for him. Going into the fourth quarter with just a 21-17 lead, the Blue Devils scored 14 points in the final frame to pull away with a 35-17 win to give Mt. Lebanon its first Class 6A title.
The win helped Palko become the second coach in WPIAL history to win a state championship with two different schools. While bittersweet for Palko after hearing the news about Davis, Palko still had joy for the team鈥檚 accomplishment.
鈥淚鈥檓 just thankful for being successful with all the things that went into it,鈥� Palko said. 鈥淏ut again, it鈥檚 still very sad. I鈥檓 just happy for the kids with all the things and hard work that went into it.鈥�
After the season, Palko racked up various coach of the year honors. On Dec. 14, 2021, he was named the Pittsburgh Steelers Coach of the Year. During that same month, he was named coach of the year by the Pennsylvania Football Writers.
Palko鈥檚 most notable award came on Feb. 7, 2022, during the NFL Pro Bowl. As the Steelers鈥� nominee, he was named the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year. The award recognizes 鈥渃haracter and integrity, leadership and dedication to the community, commitment to player health and safety and on-field success.鈥�
During the season, the coach of the year winner coached quarterback Joey Daniels, running back Alex Tecza, wide receiver Eli Heidenreich, offensive lineman Kade Capristo and defensive lineman William Harvey, who all appeared on the 2021 Pa. Football Writers鈥� Class 6A All-State team.
With the team effort displayed by everyone, Palko said his reaction to getting the award was a 鈥渇ull-circle鈥� moment.
鈥淚sn鈥檛 it ironic that it was won because we were successful as a team?鈥� Palko said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the same thing we鈥檝e been trying to tell these kids from day one: the only way to be successful is to do it through the team and let all those individual things take care of themselves.鈥�
Palko will look to maintain last season鈥檚 success going into the 2022 season.
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