Legendary LHHS football coach Don Malinak passes away

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – Legendary Lock Haven High School football coach Don Malinak, age 90, passed away early Thursday at the Gatehouse Hospice at Divine Providence Hospital in Williamsport, family members at his side.

Funeral arrangements are being completed by the Walker Funeral Home of Flemington and will be announced later for the celebrated high school football coach.

Coach Malinak had been battling health issues in recent years but was the principal in July of last year when former players joined him to celebrate his 90th birthday. On that occasion the City of Lock Haven passed a resolution declaring July 7, 2022, as Don Malinak Day. Another honor came in September at a Central Mountain football game at the stadium named in his honor.

Members of one of the venerable coach’s outstanding teams, from the Lock Haven High School Class of 1960, presented Malinak a plaque to be permanently mounted at Malinak Stadium, the facility named in his honor in 2009.

The plaque reads:
Malinak Stadium

Dedicated to Coach Don Malinak

Head Football Coach at Lock Haven High School from 1957 to 1985.

Coached the Bobcats to ten consecutive winning seasons and five conference championships.

Voted Central Counties coach of the Year in 1961.

Had a career coaching record of 183-90-10.

Co-Captain at Penn State in 1953 and named an All-East Regional End.

Played in both the North-South Shrine and Senior Bowl games.

Was a 3 year starter and an All-State Selection at Steelton High School.

Elected to the PA Scholastic Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1991 and the West Branch Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.

COURTESY of the 1960 LHHS FOOTBALL TEAM