KARNS CITY, Pa. (D9Sports) – Long-time Karns City football coach Ed Conto, the fourth-winningest coach in District 9 history, has retired.
(Photo by Mike Schnelle)
Conto went 203-126-3 in 30 years as a head football coach in District 9, including the last 18 at Karns City where he went 167-52 with 11 District 9 titles (nine in Class 2A and the 2016 and 2017 titles in Class 3A as a sub-region title) including six in a row to close out his career. He led the Gremlins to the District 9 title game 15 times and also took A-C Valley to the 1998 District 9 Class 3A title game where the Falcons, who were in a co-op with Cranberry at the time thus playing 3A, lost to Clearfield.
After winning his 200th career game with a 58-14 win at Keystone this past season, Conto said his coaching staff deserved much of the credit.
“I would say consistency in the coaching staff has had a lot to do with the success,” Conto said at the time. “I have a lot of guys who have stayed with me the whole time. I’ve been lucky enough to have good guys who I can say ‘you be a coordinator’ and let them run with it. It’s really about developing kids into good young men.”
Conto’s 203 wins stand fourth in D9 history behind just Tim Jacnocko of Clearfield (273-108-3 in 33 years at Clearfield and counting), Larry Wiser of Clarion (217-94-1 in 29 years at Clarion and counting) and Coudersport’s Paul Simcoe (204 wins).
Conto is also the principal at Karns City High School and is planning on retiring from that position at the conclusion of the 2018-19 school year. He had given some thought to continuing as the football coach until then but with his son, Ethan, entering his senior year as the member of the Grove City football team, he wants to spend more time watching him play.
According to Karns City Athletic Director Brian Markle, the school district is currently accepting applications for a new football coach.
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