Former Wyoming Area Coach Paul Marranca honored

PITTSTON – When you think of the word “influencer” in today’s society, you think of social media personalities who have YouTube channels with hundreds of thousands — if not millions — following them.

Former Wyoming Area football coach Paul Marranca may not have millions following him, but he has influenced legions of devoted players over the decades.

For 27 years as head football coach at Wyoming Area, he taught, trained, molded, mentored, and yes, influenced thousands of young men who went through his football program. But he himself learned from the best — his mentor, the late, great Jack Henzes.

“He was like a second father to me,” Marranca said. “I played for him (at Wyoming Area) and at the end of college, he called me and said he was moving to Dunmore (High School). He said ‘I have a job for you, I want you to come and coach with me.’ That was the beginning of another long time together, and what he did for the Dunmore program was excellent.”

Coach Henzes went on to an illustrious 52-year coaching career in Pennsylvania with a winning record of 444-164-8.

For Marranca’s five years side by side with Coach Henzes was invaluable. At the end of those five years, the head coaching position opened at Wyoming Area and Coach Henzes encouraged Marranca take the job.

“Everything in my program, I hoped to have mimicked what Jack did,” Marranca said, with great emotion. “He was a great teacher, he was a great motivator, he was a great man, and I tried to emulate everything he did.”

Henzes’ influence did indeed rub off on Marranca, and for 27 seasons as head coach, he amassed a 230-98-2 record for a winning percentage of .703.

His teams over the years won seven Wyoming Valley Conference Division titles, two Eastern Conference Championships, and three District 2 titles.

On a personal level, he was named the 1980 PA Coach of the year when his team was 12-0, he landed the Wyoming Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors 12-times, and he earned the top spot as a Big 33 head coach position in the annual game between Pennsylvania and Ohio.

He, along with Lou “Bikes” Ciampi, co-founded the highly successful Wyoming Area Football Alumni Association (WAFAA) in the late 1990s.

Marranca’s peers elected him into the WAFAA Ring of Pride in 2000.

In 2010, he received one of the highest honors in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania when he was inducted into the Pennsylvania State Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

“Honoring him this weekend on the day before we do the Warrior Pride Camp and two days before we do our Warrior Golf Tournament, we just set up a good fraternal weekend,” said Bikes Ciampi. “I’ve watched Warrior Nation since we started the Alumni Association and it is just getting stronger and stronger.”

Ciampi went on to thank people and organizations like Carl Zielinski at Verbally Intoxicated, the Sunday Dispatch, and all the Wyoming Area parents associations: “It really is a great sports community.”

On Thursday, July 18, the WAFAA honored Coach Marranca when they named their workout facility in his name, the Paul J. Marranca Performance Center.

After the unveiling of the building, a reception was held at The Banks Waterfront, Pittston, were Marranca’s former teammate, Atty. Bill Anzalone was the featured speaker.

Marranca now resides in Phoenix, Ariz., close to his son, daughter and grandson.

Coach Marranca wanted to express his thanks publicly in the following letter.

July 19, 2024

To the Wyoming Area Community:

I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the Wyoming Area Football Alumni Association and the Board of Education for the honor of dedicating the weight training facility in my name.

Wyoming Area has been a significant part of my life since its inception, from having played on its first football and baseball teams in 1966, to coaching the Warriors Football Team for 29 seasons.

I am proud of the tradition and legacy of the football program, which has taught and continues to teach the values of hard work, loyalty and sportsmanship.

As co-founder of the Wyoming Area Football Alumni Association, I am thrilled to see the organization not only give back to the program, but also be exceptional role models for our players and model citizens in the community.

I want to thank the Wyoming Area community for giving me the honor and privilege of coaching their children.

My veins will forever run “Green and Gold,” and I will always be “WARRIOR PROUD!”

Sincerely,

Paul J. Marranca