SHARON —
The next chapter of Sharon High’s football program will be penned by the man who already authored 208 wins, 76 losses and 6 tied contests over a quarter-century.
Jim Wildman was returned as football coach of the perennially-proud program by a 6-2 vote at Tuesday’s school board meeting.
School board members voted Wildman to the post without discussion. Board members Chris Outrakis, Sandra Hoover, Judy Rogers, Pamela Corini and Daniel Gill voted in favor of Wildman, while Melvin Bandzak and Christopher Gavin voted against the hiring. Board members Lora Adams-King and Richard Mancino didn’t attend the meeting.
“Congrats, Jim,” Sharon Superintendent John Sarandrea said. “We wish you well.”
Wildman was given a 3-year contract with the district and replaces Bob Fromm, who resigned after last season.
Wildman was rushed by well-wishers after Tuesday’s meeting. He said he’s excited about returning to the sidelines.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity,” said Wildman, who at “65-going-on-43”-years-old, said he’s happy to get back to work.
“I’m humbled because I know what the program has been,” he said. “This is the only place I ever wanted to coach.”
According to available archives at The Herald, Wildman went 208-76-6 during his prior 25-year tenure as Tigers’ taskmaster. When he retired in February 2002, his 208 wins were a Mercer County career coaching record.
Wildman-coached Sharon squads won 13 Keystone Football League and/or Mercer County Athletic Conference crown, 8 District 10 titles (15 tournament appearances), posted 3 undefeated regular-season records, and a pair of PIAA western regional championships. His two best Tigers’ contingents bowed in back-to-back battles with Berwick for the PIAA Class AAA championship in 1994-95.
During the decade of the 1990’s, Wildman’s Tiger teams tallied a total of 103 triumphs.
He is a member of both the Mercer County (’03) and Pennsylvania (’00) sports halls of fame. According to his biography in the 2003 Mercer County Hall of Fame program, 21 Wildman-coached players matriculated at NCAA Division I programs, including former University of Michigan All-American cornerback Marlin Jackson who ultimately helped the Indianapolis Colts win a Super Bowl.
A Sharon High product, Wildman played football for legendary coach Tony Razzano and golf for Alex Chrobak.
He subsequently — and simultaneously with his coaching career — served as a PIAA basketball official for a quarter-century, and as Sharon High’s athletic director from 1984 until his 2002 retirement. He also was a co-founder of the West Penn Football Coaches Assn. and member of the Pennsylvania Football Coaches Assn.
Wildman’s father, Bo, was a legendary figure in Shenango Valley athletic circles. And Wildman’s son, Brian, played for the Tigers, with his senior season occurring in 1988.
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Jim Wildman, shown on the sidelines during a previous stint as head coach of the Sharon Tigers, was rehired by the school board Tuesday night to run the football program again.
Wildman back as Sharon football coach
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Herald-Tamie junior tourney set Thursday-Friday
