Photo Courtesy of WILLIAMSPORT SUN-GAZETTE Former East Juniata High School head coach Tom Gravish has turned Jersey Shore into a football powerhouse.

By GREG WILLIAMS

Sentinel reporter

gwilliams@lewistownsentinel.com

MECHANICSBURG — Long before Tom Gravish became one of the most respected football minds in Pennsylvania, before the district titles and the state-level runs, before Jersey Shore became one of the toughest programs in District 4, he was a young coach in Cocolamus — a determined teacher who walked into East Juniata High School and immediately raised the bar.

Now, decades later, Gravish is receiving one of the sport’s highest honors. The longtime coach has been selected for induction into the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association (PSFCA) Hall of Fame, part of the 2026 class that recognizes the state’s most influential leaders on the sidelines. It’s a fitting tribute for a man whose coaching journey has shaped communities across central Pennsylvania.

Gravish’s three seasons at East Juniata, from 1996 through 1998, remain a defining chapter in his career. The Tigers didn’t have a deep football tradition, but Gravish brought energy, structure and belief. He remembers those years with unmistakable fondness.

“It’s not easy, I’ve been fortunate,” Gravish said, reflecting on the work required to rebuild programs. “You’ve got to come in and show your vision of what could happen or what you see happening and get people to buy in. You don’t snap your fingers, and it doesn’t immediately happen.”

Even now, he speaks warmly about his time in Juniata County. “I wish they still had a team,” he said. “I loved teaching and coaching there. East Juniata is a special place with special people and a lot of great memories teaching and coaching.”

Those early years revealed the traits that would define his career: patience, persistence, and a belief that success is measured in more than wins.

“Football didn’t have that much tradition,” Gravish said of EJ. “I applaud all the kids for what we tried to do. We didn’t have many wins to show for it, but football is more about coaching than wins or state championships.”

After leaving East Juniata, Gravish crossed the Seven Mountains to Bellefonte, where he spent eight seasons and collected 45 wins. Williamsport followed, and then, in 2012, he took over at Jersey Shore — the stop that would elevate him to statewide prominence.

The Bulldogs hadn’t posted a winning season in 26 years when Gravish arrived. His first team went 0-10. But the foundation was being laid. In 2013, Jersey Shore won its first district title. Over the next decade, Gravish turned the Bulldogs into a perennial powerhouse, capturing seven District 4 championships and reaching the Class 4A state championship game.

Players describe him as a builder of culture as much as a builder of teams. Former quarterback Jerrin Loomis said Gravish constantly preached family, tradition, and accountability — values that carried the Bulldogs through adversity and success alike.

Gravish’s coaching roots run deep. He played at Bald Eagle Area under Hall of Famer Gawen Stoker, served as an assistant during championship seasons, and later balanced coaching with teaching eighth-grade U.S. history in Williamsport. His career record now stands at 189-150-1, with 123 wins at Jersey Shore.

But for all the victories, Gravish’s legacy is defined by something larger: the way he revived programs, inspired players, and strengthened communities. From East Juniata to Bellefonte to Williamsport to Jersey Shore, he left every stop better than he found it.

The PSFCA Hall of Fame induction will take place May 24, during Big 33 weekend at Cumberland Valley High School. For Gravish, it will be a moment to reflect on a lifetime of work — and on the places that shaped him, including a small school in Juniata County where a young coach first proved he could build something special.

BREAKOUT BOX

2026 PSFCA Hall of Fame Inductees

Mark Evans

Eastern Lebanon County (ELCO) High School; Manheim Township High School. A longtime Lancaster-Lebanon coaching presence known for disciplined, high-efficiency offenses and consistent playoff contention.

Tom Gravish

East Juniata High School; Bellefonte High School; Jersey Shore Area High School; Williamsport High School. District IV powerhouse builder with 189 career wins and seven district titles.

Larry Greene

Central Bucks East High School; Pennsbury High School. A Bucks County mainstay whose teams were defined by physicality and defensive toughness.

Tom Loughran

Fox Chapel High School; South Park High School. Guided South Park to sustained success and left a lasting imprint on Western Pennsylvania football.

Mike Lippy

Littlestown High School. A cornerstone figure in Adams County football, known for stability, player development, and deep postseason runs.

Mike Mischler

Erie Cathedral Prep; Iroquois High School. One of the most successful coaches in Northwest Pennsylvania, leading Cathedral Prep to perennial state-level prominence.

Terry Smith

Gateway High School; Penn State University; Temple University. A transformational figure at Gateway and a respected recruiter and developer of talent at the collegiate level.