COACHES'
CORNER
Coaches
2009 COACHING STAFF
HEAD COACH...Bob Stem...Syracuse University...5th year of 2nd term (47-11 & 3 state
titles)...also P'burg head coach from 1973-1981 (56-30-4 & 1 state title)...head coach for 19
years at Bethlehem Catholic, Pa. (173-55-2 and 2 PIAA state titles)...combined record of 103-
41-4 at P'burg...overall coaching record of 276-96-6 with 6 state championships.
Asst. Coach...Ryan Ditze...Albright College...defensive coordinator
Asst. Coach...Bob Stem Jr...U. of Delaware, Susquehanna U...offensive coordinator
Asst. Coach...John Stillo...Bloomsburg U...frosh offensive coordinator
Asst. Coach...Kyle Rovi...Juniata College...JV/soph line coach
Asst. Coach...Mike Echevarria...William & Mary...JV/soph RB/LB coach
Asst. Coach...Keith Kullman...Shippensburg U...QB coach
Asst. Coach...Mike Lelko...Bloomsburg U...WR/DB coach
Asst. Coach...Scott Silvis...Lycoming College...frosh RB/DB coach
Volunteer Asst...Steve Searfoss...Ole Miss...OL/DL coach
Volunteer Asst...Rich Guman...West Chester U...RB/DB coach
Volunterr Asst...Bruce Morgan...Piscataway High School...K/P coach
Volunteer Asst...Lou Ferrante...Easton High School...OL/DL coach
Volunteer Asst...Leonard Brice...Monmouth U.
Volunteer Asst...Scott Kish...Lycoming College
Volunteer Asst...Scott Dubiel...Rowan U.
Volunteer Asst...Dan Kendra...West Virginia U.
ALL-TIME COACHING RECORDS
Mike Maloney (1905-1931) 106-77-17 (1918 NJ State Champions)
The Father of Phillipsburg Football
Art Pursel (1932-1935) 35-3-1 (1935 NJ State Champions)
Whiz Rhinehart ( 1936-1937) 6-12-1
Doug Krick (1938-1939) 6-11-3
Frank Klein (1940-1951) 84-20-9 (1942 & 1949 NJ State Champions)
Sammy Moyer (1952-1953) 12-5-1
Harold Bellis (1954-1967) 86-29-10 (1960 NJ State Champions)
Mickey Frinzi (1968-1972) 26-18-1
Bob Stem (1973-1981) 56-30-4 (1977 Sec. 2 Gr.3 Champions)
Phil Rohm (1982-1986) 38-14
Tom Dominic (1987-1989) 25-8
Bruce Smith (1990-1997) 46-34-3
Phil Rohm (2nd term 1998-2004) 47-28 (2001 Sec.2 Gr.4 Champions)
Bob Stem (2nd term 2005-Present) 47-11 (2005 Sec.2 Gr.4, 2008 Sec.2 Gr.3, & 2009 Sec. 2 Gr. 4
Champions)
HAROLD BELLIS HONORED
Phillipsburg named its football field after legendary coach Harold Bellis at its home opener on
September 14, 2007. The 91-year old Bellis has been a respected member of the Phillipsburg
community his entire life, and is without question deserving of this honor for his lifelong
commitment to Phillipsburg students, the school, the community, and players and fans alike.
Bellis was captain and an All-State center on P'burg's great 1933 team, which shut out 9
opponents while losing only once by an 18-0 score to St. Benedict's Prep of Newark, the
defending New Jersey prep school champion. St. Benedict's would later forfeit the game
because it used an ineligible player. Upon graduation from PHS, Bellis played QB at Lafayette
College. He served as assistant coach at Coatesville, Pa. in 1940 before being named head
coach at Pen Argyl, Pa. in 1941. He joined the staff at P'burg as an assistant coach in 1947,
and was later named head coach at P'burg in 1954. During his tenure at P'burg, Bellis put
together an 86-29-10 record, which includes two unbeaten seasons in 1960 and 1964. His
1960 team was named New Jersey state champion. Bellis retired following the 1967 season.
He then coached the Lafayette freshmen football team with longtime friend and former Easton
head coach Bob Rute. Bellis also taught algebra and coached baseball at Phillipsburg for 27
years. From a personal standpoint, this writer was a student and played football under coach
Bellis in 1966 as well as his last season in 1967. As a teacher, he was stern and demanding of
his students. As a coach, his mere presence and bellowing voice instilled fear as well as
respect. His coaching style was very conservative, with emphasis on the fundamentals of
blocking, tackling, execution, teamwork, and sportsmanship. While commanding respect, his
exterior belied a softer side, which was witnessed in the locker room following a heartbreaking
loss to Easton in 1966, when he shed tears for his players following the loss. Seeing him again
and taking his picture at the festivities celebrating the 100th anniversary of P'burg football, and
then again at the " ultimate team photo " prior to the 100th game between P'burg and Easton
brought about a feeling of nostalgia, but also put a smile on all of our faces. How time flies!
The dedication of the playing field in his name was an historic event which all those in
attendance will remember fondly for many years to come.
HAROLD BELLIS CHRONOLOGY and MILESTONES
1931 Played in 25th P'burg-Easton game.
1933 Served as captain and earned all-state honors at center under Coach Art Pursel.
1940 Named assistant coach at Coatesville, Pa.
1941 Named head coach at Pen Argyl, Pa.
1946 Returned to Pen Argyl after serving in the military.
1947 Named assistant coach at Phillipsburg.
1954 Named head coach at Phillipsburg.
1956 Coached Stateliners in 50th P'burg-Easton game.
1960 Guided Stateliners to 8-0-1 season and state championship.
1961 Coached P'burg's 300th win, 42-18 over William Allen.
1964 Coached Stateliners to another unbeaten season at 8-0-1.
1967 Announced retirement as P'burg head coach at the end of the season, finishing with an
86-29-10 record.
1968 Coached freshmen at Lafayette College.
1981 Attended 75th P'burg-Easton game.
1985 Inducted into Lehigh Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of
Fame.
1986 Inducted into Lafayette College Hall of Fame.
2000 Named to Phillipsburg Wall of Fame.
2001 Named one of top 100 sports figures for the past century by the Express-Times.
2006 Inducted into inaugural P'burg-Easton Hall of Fame. Attended 100th P'burg-Easton game.
2006 Named a Legend of the Lehigh Valley.
2007 P'burg football field named in his honor. Now known as "Bellis Field at Maloney Stadium."
Harold Bellis
(1916-2010)
The Phillipsburg community awoke on Monday morning to the news that one of its favorite sons, legendary coach Harold Bellis, had passed away on Sunday, June 20, with his family at his side. The 93-year old Bellis was a true icon in the community as a revered teacher, coach, and mentor of thousands of P'burg students and athletes during a career that spanned more than 40 years. His list of accomplishments and honors is stunning. More importantly, he was always held in the highest regard, not only by his colleagues, but by virtually everyone he came into contact with. He leaves a legacy of hard work, integrity, dedication to education, and commitment to the betterment of people's lives, especially in the town of Phillipsburg, that will live for many years. Our thoughts are with his family. Farewell coach.
