But as 71-year-old Lycoming defensive coordinator Steve Wiser got his players prepared for a Wednesday afternoon practice, just a few days removed from a 21-point opening loss and on a day where temperatures exceeded 90 degrees, he wore a smile and showed zero signs of discomfort. He’s in the early stages of his 50th year on the coaching staff and still holds the same passion he had when he was initially hired in 1974.

“You can offer me a job in New York City, pay me half-a-million dollars, give me a house over there for nothing and guess what? I’m not taking it,” laughed Wiser when discussing how he feels about his role.

“I think it’s important that you know what you’re doing. You’ve got to enjoy yourself and be happy with it. I taught school for 32 years and I loved it. I’ve been coaching for 50 years, and I love it. I mean, I don’t consider this a job.”

There was a brief time in his career where he considered other roles, interviewing for a job at Princeton and having an offer on the table to work with his high school head coach, Alan Wilson, at Delaware Valley.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Steve Wiser, assistant football coach for Lycoming College, center, serves as the associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator.

But even being just a few years into his career at Lycoming up to that point, he knew he was destined to remain a Warrior.

Whether it was the atmosphere at the stadium, the university’s campus and administration, the community or just his loyalty to then-coach Frank Girardi, there were a lot of aspects that convinced him to stay. Girardi, who Wiser coached with for about 35 years, not only took a chance on him but also helped him land his first and only teaching job at Williamsport Area High School.

“Coach Girardi really opened the doors for me in a lot of ways, in football and coaching. Academically, socially. So, I wasn’t going to go anywhere,” said Wiser. “I could not imagine coaching anywhere but Lycoming. I’m kind of old school, you know, with loyalty and so forth, so this is home.”

“This is home,” he emphasized.

Through the 24 seasons preceding his arrival as defensive coordinator, which spanned between six and eight games, the Warriors only allowed under 100 points in a season six times. Their best defensive season came in 1956 when they allowed just nine points per game.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Steve Wiser, assistant football coach for Lycoming College, center, serves as the associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator.

Wiser managed to break that in just his second season (7.5), then did so again just two seasons after that (5.1).

Behind a unit built on discipline, communication and a team-first mentality, it would go six years without relinquishing more than 100 points in a season and carried that success through the next few decades.

“It has to be a definite ‘we.’ It can’t be about the individual,” Wiser said on its philosophy throughout that period. “Really once you get into the season, there’s not a whole lot you’re going to change someone physically. It’s a mental game, that’s 90-percent of the game now.”

With its rise in defense and equivalent improvements on offense came an obvious uptick in success. Between Wiser’s arrival and Frank Girardi’s retirement after 2007, the pair won over 200 contests, attended two Stagg Bowls and won 12 conference titles.

“I tell our guys, ‘Hey, I know how to lose,’ but I don’t like to lose,” said Wiser with a laugh. “We lost when I played here and then we started turning things around. Coach Girardi did a great job.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Steve Wiser, enters his 50th year as an assistant football coach for Lycoming College in 2023. Wiser currently serves as the associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator.

With the pair coaching together for 30 years, it was a rough adjustment for Wiser once Girardi retired. But he believes they made a good choice with the hiring of Mike Clark, admiring his work ethic and how effectively he dealt with the pressure of following in Girardi’s footsteps.

Regarding Girardi, they still talk on a near-daily basis – sometimes about the team but mostly just about how they’re doing. He’s ever grateful for the opportunities the legendary coach provided him, and they’ve built an unshakeable relationship on top of that.

“He’s become like a second dad,” said Wiser. “He took me in and made me part of his family. He’s been more than a coach and friend.”

When it comes to his commitment to the team and sport of football, there are endless aspects that have kept it at the same level through the decades. The consistent payoff of seeing the players grow both on and off the field has kept him happy on the football field, and the continuous support of his wife, Pam, for keeping him focused on doing what he loves.

“As a coach, you better have a wife that supports you. I’ve been blessed for the last 20 years to have a great wife with that,” said Wiser. “This is what you love to do, this is what I love to do. She’s been great.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Steve Wiser, enters his 50th year as an assistant football coach for Lycoming College in 2023. Wiser currently serves as the associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator.

In terms of how much longer Wiser plans to coach, he’s year-to-year but could see himself doing this for a good while longer. As it stands, his passion for the game has yet to dwindle.

“It’s been a great run and it sure goes fast. I’ve been blessed over the years I’ve coached,” said Wiser. “I’m ready. I’m fired up and want to head this in the right direction. I’m excited and when I stop getting excited of doing it, then I’m retired. Time to get out.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Steve Wiser, enters his 50th year as an assistant football coach for Lycoming College in 2023. Wiser currently serves as the associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator.