Drew Gordon, who guided La Salle High to its first PIAA state football title, dies
La Salle College High School's Drew Gordon, the first Philadelphia Catholic League coach from a major sport to win a PIAA state championship, died Monday at the age of 73.
Gordon guided the 2009 Explorers to a 14-1 record and the Class 4A state football title with a 24-7 victory over State College behind touchdowns from junior running back Jamal Abdur-Rahman, senior Sam Feleccia and sophomore Tim Wade.
Gordon and La Salle made it back to the 2010 state championship game, falling to North Allegheny 21-0 after overcoming North Penn 38-35 in the PIAA semifinals.
He went 91-26 in nine seasons as head coach (2006-14) after succeeding Joe Colistra, leading the Explorers to eight appearances in the Catholic League title game with six wins (2006, 2008-12) and going 19-4 in the PCL playoffs. Gordon's teams earned four consecutive District 12 championships (2009-12). He had been Colistra's offensive coordinator for five years and was never afraid to throw the ball.
An All-Catholic quarterback at Bishop McDevitt in 1966-67, Gordon played college ball for Villanova, where he set the school's single-game passing record with 395 yards in a 1970 Thanksgiving victory over Temple. Son Brett, a 1998 La Salle grad, broke the record 32 years later in 2002 with 460 passing yards in a 2002 'Nova win against Delaware.
Drew Gordon is a member of the Villanova University and Bishop McDevitt Halls of Fame.
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According to his obituary, Drew Gordon is survived by his children, Brett Gordon (Tanya), Caroline Dalton (Dennis), and Jaclyn Kerns (Chris). He was a proud grandfather to Brooke Dalton, Kate Dalton, Luke Gordon, Ryan Kerns, Jameson Kerns, Gavin Kerns, and Grace Gordon. He is also survived by his siblings Denise Davis, Debbie Hirlehey, Lori Finn, Jim Gordon, and Tom Gordon.
Relatives and friends are invited to his Visitation Tuesday evening, Sept. 12, at 6 p.m. and Wednesday, Sept. 13, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Luke the Evangelist Church, 2316 Fairhill Avenue, Glenside, Pennsylvania, 19038. A Funeral Mass will follow on Wednesday, Sept. 13, at 11 a.m. at St. Luke the Evangelist Church. Interment will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Travis Manion Foundation 164 E. State St. Doylestown, PA 18901 or to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 would be appreciated by his family.
Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Ex-La Salle football coach Drew Gordon, who won state title, dies
