Catholic League coaching legend John Quinn dies
John Quinn coached four Catholic League football teams during a career that spanned 22 seasons. He passed away at 79.
LONGTIME Philadelphia-area football coach John Quinn passed away over the weekend at the age of 79. Quinn, who most recently coached at Conwell-Egan Catholic, was well known for his success at Archbishop Ryan.
Quinn made three different stops at Ryan, and was continuing to help with strength and conditioning this year. He was one of the two laymen when the school opened in 1967, and had a longstanding relationship with George Todt, the athletic director at Archbishop Ryan.
"John Quinn is the essence of Archbishop Ryan High School, and the essence of the Philadelphia Catholic League," Todt said. "I couldn't have been in a better place, or have a better role model, someone who gave a real feel to what it meant to be a teacher-coach.''
Quinn starred at North Catholic High. From there, he went on to play at Notre Dame. After his playing days were over, he returned to coach his alma mater, as well as Roman Catholic High School, Ryan and C-E.
"When I was kid in North Philly, John lived right near me," said Fran Dougherty, a former athletic director at North Catholic. "He was our idol as a kid. What was amazing about John Quinn was that he always saw the big picture. It wasn't just Ryan, Roman or North. It was about the Catholic League.
"It was so much more important than him or his team. I thought that was such a trait that most people never saw. The integrity of the Catholic League was so much more important than any questionable call."
Quinn's respect for the Catholic League shined throughout his illustrious career, especially in 1988 when he won the Catholic League championship with Ryan. In all, Quinn coached his teams to 111 wins in 22 seasons.
"The best moment in my life, and I've won 13 Catholic League championships, but the finest moment I've ever had was watching John win his first and only one in 1988," Todt said.
Todt added that the legacy and influence that Quinn leaves behind stretches far beyond the sidelines of a football field.
"His influence on me, on many of the athletes, whether they were football players or athletes in general, with ethics, hard work, and doing it the right way, all those words are summed up in one name. John Quinn."