By Chris Harlan
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015, 4:51 p.m.Updated 31 minutes ago
Gateway football coach Tom Nola, who won four state titles with Clairton, resigned Wednesday after two seasons with the Gators.
Nola didn't find the same success he'd had at the Class A power, but leaves with a winning season. His team finished 5-4 this year and narrowly missed the Class AAA playoffs on tiebreakers. In his two seasons, Gateway went 9-10.
“We improved greatly,” Nola said of his two years in Monroeville. “I thought it was a big improvement. The team now has way more participants than it had the year before. We played better. We had a winning record this year. All nine games were tough, close games. It was a big improvement from the first year, so I think they're headed in the right direction.”
In a letter to athletic director Randy Rovesti, among his reasons for leaving Nola cited health issues with him and his family. Also there was a desire to spend time in Florida where he bought a winter home. Nola was reluctant to ask his assistants to handle the off-season responsibilities without him around, Rovesti said.
“I think it was a difficult decision for him,” Rovesti said. “We were pleased and happy with him at Gateway. We were honored that he coached at our school. ... I think basically he thought it was his time to go.”
Nola didn't rule out coaching again elsewhere, but “not in the near future.” Rovesti said Nola already met with the players.
“Coach Nola has a deep love for them, and they have a love for him,” Rovesti said. “He treated the kids well, and they responded positively to him.”
As Clairton's coach from 2002-13, Nola compiled a 141-22 record in 12 seasons with six WPIAL titles and four consecutive PIAA titles. He also oversaw a 66-game winning streak that is the state's longest.
This season ended with a 15-12 victory over Franklin Regional — a win that the Gators at first thought had secured them a WPIAL playoff spot as the Class AAA wildcard. Soon, they learned Chartiers Valley had edged them on tiebreakers.
“We were pretty jubilant after a good win over a team like Franklin Regional,” Nola said. “Then we got deflated when we found out we didn't make it. We had the potential to beat a lot of good teams, but it didn't happen. We put ourselves in that position with so many losses.”
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