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When Lock Haven mayor Joel Long proclaimed July 7 as "Don Malinak Day" in 2022, there was a special significance behind it. Not only is the day Malinak's birthday, but the day signifies the staple that Malinak was and the impact he had on the Lock Haven community.
January 19 ended what was a monumental life for a great person, football coach, and Lock Haven legend. When Don Malinak passed away last Thursday morning at the age of 90, many reflected on the great memories they had with their friend and coach.
Malinak was a demanding, hard-nosed guy that got after it on the field, but celebrated his players and peers off the field. He built the character of his players on the field, which often translated to who that person would be off the field. Malinak's playing and coaching career will be something to remember, but he will also be remembered for what he contributed off the field.
ON-THE-FIELD IMPACT
Malinak began his coaching career in the early 1950s, after spending two years in the army, before taking over at Lock Haven High School from 1957-85. During the 28 years the former Penn State wide receiver coached in Lock Haven, he produced many division one scholarship players and multi-sport athletes. In 1960, Lock Haven completed an undefeated season and five players on the team received division one offers that year.
Some of those players are still alive and well today, including Mike Packer, Mike Vuocolo, Ron Bowes, Terry Hendricks, Rodger Cook, Charlie Cluckey, Will Wolfe, Pete Piedmont and Lee Sweitzer, who meet on a regular basis.
What helped Lock Haven complete that undefeated season was based on how Malinak treated his players--as equals. As a young, up and coming coach making way to a high school with players only 8-10 years younger than him, Malinak demanded respect. But it paid off in the long run.
"He produced a lot of good individuals," former Lock Haven football standout Bowes said. "He had a drive and he treated everyone the same. It didn't matter if you were the star running back or quarterback."
Hendricks, who tabbed himself as a 'quiet guy,' said: "He was tough on his guys, but he helped build my character."
The character-building aspect was tough for guys, but it paid off in the long run. Not only did Malinak put together a 176-90-9 record overall--including his stint at Mount Union--Malinak got his players scholarship offers, gave his players a path for their careers outside of football and led guys to the hall of fame.
Bill Bowes, brother of Ron and current college football hall-of-famer, attended Penn State with Bud Yost in 1962. Gary Crowder, who was a Colorado football standout, Mike Vuocolo, standout running back at Michigan and two players who attended North Carolina State all made prominent names for themselves through Malinak.
There's no question that Malinak coached well and produced high-caliber players. The two-time coach of the year and Pennsylvania sports hall-of-famer will have his name in record books forever. But what also lives on is the coaching tree that Malinak had a hand in.
Many college coaches we know today got their start from a family member who was a coach, or from a former coach when they played. The coaches that we see on television today got their start somewhere. Chip Kelly, who coaches UCLA, and Ryan Day, who coaches Ohio State, both got their starts because of Malinak and were part of his coaching tree.
It may not have been directly, but Malinak giving them an opportunity to be around the team or to learn what it's like to run a team sparked a desire to be a coach. Mike Packer, who succeeded Malinak at Lock Haven after stints with the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets, was a successful coach because of Malinak.
"I watched him coach all those years, and then he helped me with coaching," Packer said.
"Chip Kelly and Ryan Day played at New Hampshire where my brother coached, so they're part of the Malinak coaching tree along with Mike Packer," Ron Bowes added.
OFF-THE-FIELD
INFLUENCE
Often times what a coach accomplishes on the field--whether it be wins, championships, records--can get in the way of their impact off the field. Malinak wasn't just a coach who won games and succeeded in athletics, he cared about his players off the field as well.
After getting the Lock Haven coaching job in 1957--and realizing the talent of players he had around him--Malinak started the school's first ever boosters club. The club came in major part because some football players and wrestlers lived in surrounding areas of Lock Haven--such as Blanchard or Orviston--and needed transportation to practices and games. Boosters volunteered to drive football players and wrestlers to practices and games.
Following their playing careers, Malinak always stayed in touch with his former players. Whether it was being invited to a class reunion or helping a player land a job, Malinak had a hand in the pot. Malinak unknowingly helped Bowes get his first assistant coaching position, along with many others.
Malinak was a remarkable coach who will be remembered for his historical football resume, how he impacted and cared for his players and what he did for the Lock Haven community through football. Although he was a strict, no-nonsense coach, that's what made his players better on and off the field. He was always proud of his guys, like when he joked with them after their careers, and Malinak's players will always appreciate him for what he did for them.