Marian Catholic High School has named Pat Morgans as the next head football coach replacing coach Stan Dakosty, who recently retired after 40 years.

Morgans is a 1986 Marian Catholic High School graduate. He went on to play football at Bucknell University on a four-year scholarship where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science in 1990. In 1998 he earned a Secondary Mathematics Education Teaching Certificate from Bloomsburg University.

This will be the first head coaching position for Morgans, who has 24 years of coaching experience, including 12 years with the Colts' program. He has also coached at Palmerton (one year), Blue Mountain (two years), and Jim Thorpe (nine years).

Morgans is the son of Patrick and Gladys Morgans, Tamaqua. His father has been on the faculty at Marian for 49 years.

"Pat was a great football player. He is a great coach and most importantly he is a great person," said Dakosty about his replacement. "In my mind this was an easy decision. Pat played in the league, coached teams in the league and he knows our players and our program.

"We are not giving him this opportunity. He has earned the position of Marian's next head football coach."

The Times News will have a full story on the hiring of Morgans, including remarks from the new head coach, in Friday's paper.