One of the most successful eras in the history of local high school football has come to an end after Galen Snyder announced on Wednesday he will not return for a 19th season as the Pennsbury head coach. “It’s just time,” replied Snyder when asked why he will no longer head up one of the most storied public school programs in the Delaware Valley. “My days as a head coach are over. I might end up coaching somewhere as an assistant coach.” Snyder was the head coach at Pennsbury for 18 years and compiled a 137-71 record with the Falcons. His teams won five titles in one of the toughest leagues in Pennsylvania. He also guided the Falcons to two very prestigious PIAA District 1 Class 6A championships in 2006 and 2014. The 2006 team won 13 games before falling to Bethlehem Liberty in a four-overtime state semifinal thriller. The 2014 team might very well have been the best 6A public school team in the state. It also went 13-2 and was one win away from a state final before falling to St. Joe’s Prep. In addition, Snyder did a solid job rebuilding the Harry S Truman program from 1998 to 2001 prior to taking over at Pennsbury. He later was a key member of the Truman coaching staff when the Tigers won a league title in 2018 and compiled a record of 10-2. As a player, Snyder was a hard-hitting linebacker who was named all state and was a key member of Pennsbury’s undefeated 1985 team coached by Jim Dundala. He played in college at Duke University before transferring to Columbia. Snyder’s physical approach as a player was reflected in his coaching style. His Pennsbury teams specialized in gang-tackling tough defense and an in-your-face Ground and Pound Wing-T running game that specialized in wearing down opposing defenses. His abilities as a coach were never more reflected than in the 2022 season when Snyder returned for a second stint as Pennsbury’s head coach. Taking over a program that had lost 17 straight games, Snyder turned things completely around in a year in which the Falcons won a Suburban One League National Division championship and went 9-2. Another real plus as far as Pennsbury’s fans are concerned is Snyder had a winning record against arch-rival Neshaminy. In the overall picture of things, the fact Snyder coached Pennsbury for 18 years is impressive in itself. There’s a lot of pressure that goes along with this job and high expectations by its fans that are often unrealistic. Snyder’s 18 years were more than than the number of seasons as legendary coaches Chuck Kane and Dundala combined. Just where Pennsbury will go from here is unclear. Whoever takes over as head coach will inherit a team that went 1-9 but returns nine starters on a defensive unit that was one of the best in the league and received all kinds of praise from opposing coaches. ...read more read less