Coaching Legends at Lewes

We have an amazing line up for our 3rd annual Coaches weekend/Men's Retreat, April 15-17 in Lewes Delaware. Register at: www.delmarvafca.org Today, we are featuring guest speaker Coach Phil Albert.

Coaches are arguably the busiest leaders on the planet. The nature of coaching impacts a Coaches ability to develop as leaders, find consistent solitude and exercise the fundamentals of the faith. Coaches often battle to lead well and finish well. The April Coaches weekend will provide a rare opportunity for arguably the most influential people on the planet (Coaches) to rest, grow and fellowship. Last year 45 leaders from 6 different states were in attendance.

Three years ago finding a leading from God we purposed to create an opportunity for Coaches to be with Jesus. This came directly from scripture in "Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men (Coaches), they were astonished and they took note that these men (Coaches) had been with Jesus." Significant breakthrough and transformation will occur for every leader who decides to "be with Jesus" by attending the Coaches weekend.

Coach Phil Albert's bio:

The winningest coach in Towson University history, Phil Albert returned to the Tiger coaching staff as its offensive coordinator in 2003.

From 1972 to 1991, Coach Albert was the Tigers’ head coach. In 20 years as the Tigers’ coach, he compiled a record of 117-91-3. After the 1991 season, he retired as the Tigers’ head coach as long-time assistant Gordy Combs took over leadership of the program.

A 1966 graduate of the University of Arizona, the Johnstown, Pa. native became the Tigers’ head coach at the age of 28. At the time he was one of the youngest head football coaches in the nation and he was guiding one of the youngest football programs in the nation. Towson was starting just its fourth season of college football.

Over the next 20 years, he directed the very young program to success at three different levels of NCAA competition. His teams advanced to the NCAA post-season four times and played for one national championship.

In 1972, he posted a 1-9 record in his first season as the Tigers’ coach. In his second year, the Tigers had a 4-4 record. The 1973 season started a streak of 14 consecutive non-losing seasons. In 1974, Coach Albert guided Towson to the only unbeaten season (10-0) in school history. He was honored by the American Football Coaches Association as its Region 3 Coach of the Year, the first of five regional Coach of the Year awards he would earn in his career.
In 1976, the Tigers made their first NCAA post-season appearance in the Division III playoffs.

After wins over C.W. Post and St. Lawrence, Towson reached the national championship game, the Stagg Bowl, in Phenix City, Alabama. In a very wild game, the Tigers rallied from a 28-0 deficit before dropping a last-second 31-28 decision to St. John’s in an ABC nationally televised game.

After ten seasons as a Division III program, Coach Albert led Towson into the ranks of Division II in 1979. After dropping their season opener, the first meeting with Morgan State, the Tigers ran the table and finished the season with a 9-1 record, barely missing out on a Division II playoff berth. In eight seasons as a Division II football program, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 60-26-2 and had six winning seasons.

In 1982, the Tigers posted a 7-4 record with wins over Bucknell and Maine. In 1983, Towson enjoyed an outstanding season by compiling a 10-1 regular season record. Ranked as high as fourth in the nation, the Tigers owned wins over Delaware, Delaware State and James Madison. In the first round of the Division II playoffs, Towson dropped a 24-17 contest at North Dakota State. The Tigers won the first of three Lambert/Meadowlands awards as the top Division II program in the East while their coach was named as the Kodak regional coach of the year.

In 1984, the Tigers finished the season with a 9-4 record and reached the semi-finals of the Division II Tournament with a 31-21 win over Norfolk State. After barely missing a third straight Division II playoff appearance in 1985, the Tigers returned to the national playoffs in 1986 when they had an 8-3-1 record in their final season at the Division II level. Towson also won its third Lambert/Meadowlands Award in 1986.

In 1987, the Tiger football program made another move forward when they joined the ranks of NCAA Division I-AA football. After leading the Tigers through their first five I-AA seasons, Coach Albert stepped down on February 24, 1992.

The third-winningest coach in the history of Maryland college football, he remains the only coach in college football to coach the same school at three different levels of NCAA competition. In his years as the Tigers’ boss, he coached 28 All-Americans. Four players were selected in the National Football League draft and one of his players, David Meggett, was the winner of the 1988 Walter Payton Award as the top player in NCAA Division I-AA. Both Meggett and former Towson punter, Sean Landeta, went on to enjoy All-Pro careers in the NFL.

From 1994 to 2001, Coach “A” was the advance game day scout for the NFL San Diego Chargers. In 2001 and 2002 he served as the offensive coordinator at nearby Calvert Hall College. The Cardinals were 17-4 during his two years with the program.

With the Tigers embarking upon their first season as members of the Atlantic 10 Football Conference in 2003, Coach Albert returned to the football program as its offensive coordinator. Since his return, the Tiger offense has become one of the most explosive units in the FCS.

Inducted into the Towson University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994, “Coach A” was also inducted into the Cambria County (Pa.) Hall of Fame last year.
Coach Albert and his wife, Kay, reside in Parkville, Md. They are the parents of two daughters, Becky and Tracy, and a son, Christian. Phil and Kay have seven grandchildren.