EAST NORRITON – Amanda O’Leary, Mark Schmidt and Steve Schein were inducted into the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame Tuesday night at the 22nd Annual Induction Banquet at Presidential Caterers in East Norriton.
Amanda O’Leary
O’Leary, who was a three-sport athlete at Spring-Ford High School, is the University of Florida’s women’s lacrosse head coach, a position she’s held since starting the program in 2010. She’s led the Gators to 12 conference regular season championships, 11 conference tournament championships, 13 NCAA Tournament appearances and two trips to the Final Four. She was Yale University’s head coach for 14 years from 1994-2007. She coached Yale to an Ivy League Tri-Championship in 2003 and two NCAA Tournament appearances in 2003 and 2007. In 1996, O’Leary was the United States Women’s Lacrosse Association Regional Coach of the Year. She received the 2018 Tewaaraton Legend Award.
“She was thrilled,” John Reed, O’Leary’s uncle, said. O’Leary was unable to attend Tuesday’s banquet.
“Her resume speaks for itself and she loves coaching… Her parents, Lonny and Joyce, worked with her from the time she was 8-years-old.That’s when they gave her a lacrosse stick.”
O’Leary played field hockey and lacrosse at Temple University. She was a two-time first team All-American in field hockey and three-time first team All-American in lacrosse.
Mark Schmidt
Schmidt started his coaching career at Norristown Area High School in 1982. For the past 42 years, he’s held numerous positions at the high school and college level. He’s most known for his time at Neshaminy High School, where he was the head coach from 1995-2014. He reached the District 1 championship game seven times and won three titles. In 2001, he led Neshaminy to the program’s first state championship with a 15-0 record. The team was ranked No. 7 in the nation.
“It’s amazing,” Schmidt said. “It’s really something that’s special to me because I remember like it was yesterday that we finished up practice when I was at Neshaminy and Roger (Grove) was on our staff. We hurried up a playoff practice and high-tailed up to Westover for Roger to get inducted. For me, to follow his footsteps into this, is something very cool. The people that are here and the way that this whole organization runs, it’s an honor and a privilege. It’s tremendous.”
Schmidt, who was La Salle College High School’s offensive line coach this fall, also had a successful run at Imhotep Institute Charter High School. He filled several positions, including head coach, offensive line coach and defensive line coach, while helping Imhotep win five Philadelphia Public League and District 12 championships and two state titles.
Steve Schein
Schein has coached football for 51 years and counting in Montgomery County. He was the head coach at Upper Merion High School for 17 years and accumulated a 117-70-6 record with four Suburban One League championships. He’s spent 30 years coaching at Spring-Ford High School and has been involved in 179 wins.
“I’m just honored, humbled and grateful to be selected and join a group of coaches that I’ve known for many, many years and have a great deal of respect and admiration for,” Schein said. “It’s very special.”
Schein founded the Spring-Ford Youth Football and Cheerleading program and spent five years as its president. He also spent three years as the Spring-Ford wrestling head coach and was an assistant coach for the track program.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Wilmer Cressman
Cressman earned the Lifetime Achievement Award for his commitment to promoting sports, service and scholarship in Montgomery County. Cressman, a 1949 Norristown Area High School graduate, helped start the Triangle Club of Montgomery County and the Norristown Area High School Hall of Champions Association.
The Triangle Club recognized high school seniors, selected by their schools, for their outstanding accomplishments in athletics, academics and community service for 55 years. High schools throughout Montgomery County would recommend one senior for the William F. Dannehower Award. The committee would choose the award winner and two runner ups. The three selections earned college scholarships. The Triangle Club also had a holiday high school basketball tournament that featured local teams.
The Norristown Area High School Hall of Champions Association was established in 1977 to “honor and perpetuate the accomplishments of alumni of Norristown Area High School for distinguished achievements in athletics or other categories of life.” The association features two divisions – the Hall of Champions and the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Champions honors graduates who made outstanding contributions to athletics during their high school careers. The Hall of Fame honors alumni who distinguished themselves after graduating.
“It’s quite an honor,” Cressman said. “All my life doing activities in the area – I’m very honored to receive this award because I’ve seen who received it before and they’re very outstanding people with very great careers. It’s a thrill to me. I was deeply honored to get the award.”
Cressman played baseball for Norristown and coached baseball in the area.
Honor Roll
Jim and Mary Brown, Burnell “Snapp” Lewis and Kirk Daywalt were honored for their volunteer work as members of the Community Coaches Honor Roll.
Jim and Mary Brown have been volunteering throughout the Main Line for 47 years and counting. They’ve been involved with Main Line American Legion Baseball, Rosemont-Villanova Civic Association Sports Program, Narberth Colts Baseball, Main Line Baseball, Malvern Youth Basketball League, Radnor Youth Baseball League, Narberth Junior Legion, Narberth Senior Legion, Lower Merion Little League, Narberth Athletic Association NFL Flag Football, the Eastern PA Youth Soccer Association and more.
Lewis has been involved with the Plymouth Junior American Basketball Association since 1997. He’s served as a coach, referee, League Commissioner and Executive Council Vice President. He was a volunteer coach for the Plymouth Whitemarsh girls basketball team from 2010-2013. He was a volunteer coach for Fencor AAU basketball in 2010 and 2011.
Daywalt was a volunteer coach for 22 years. He was involved with East Norriton Girls Softball, East Norriton Little League, the East Norriton All-Star Travel team, Saint Titus CYO Baseball, East Norriton Junior Legion Baseball and Norristown Senior Legion (Presidential Caterers). He served as head coach, general manager and assistant head coach during his time with the senior legion team from 2013-2020 and won two championships.
