Mt. Lebanon names Palko new football coach
Mt. Lebanon Athletic Director John Grogan introduced Bob Palko as the high school’s new head varsity football coach and the former West Allegheny skipper met with his new players after school on Feb. 12.
“We are very excited to have Coach Palko on board and look forward to him building a competitive team and providing a positive experience for our football team,” said Grogan.
Principal Brian McFeeley added, “We are very pleased to have Coach Palko join the Mt. Lebanon High School program. To have the opportunity to bring in a coach like Bob Palko with his expertise and reputation for building positive relationships with his student-athletes, I know will carry-on and expand the traditions of excellence in Mt. Lebanon High School football and our school in general.”
Palko, 59, was the head football coach at West Allegheny High School for the past 24 years. He also coached at Duquesne University, Seton LaSalle High School, Jeannette High School and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Palko retired as a physical education teacher at West Allegheny in June 2018 and his last season at the helm ended in November when he guided the Indians to the WPIAL Class 5A championship game at Heinz Field before losing to Penn Hills, which went on to win the state title.
Palko is a district legend, having won a record eight WPIAL championships in 1997, 1999-2001, 2009, 2012-13 and 2016. The Indians captured a PIAA state title in 2001 with Palko’s son, Tyler, at quarterback.
In building West Allegheny into one of the best programs in WPIAL history, he compiled a 217-73 record (.748 percentage) in 24 seasons.
“Our goal was to find a great football coach,” said Grogan, “but more importantly a great person that could build the kind of relationships with our kids, parents and community that would provide a tremendous experience for our entire program.”
Having working with Palko from 1997-2000 during his tenure as West Allegheny’s AD, Grogan knows he is getting exactly what he wanted in a coach.
“Obviously, I feel Coach Palko brings the intangibles to make this happen. His resume speaks for itself but more importantly I feel he is a tremendous person that will have a positive impact on our program,” Grogan said.
Palko replaces Mike Melnyk, who resigned in December, citing lack of support from the school’s administration. During his seven-year tenure, the Blue Devils compiled a 44-31 record and reached the playoffs six times.
Palko becomes Lebo’s fifth coach in 50 years. In addition to Melnyk, he succeeds Chris Haering (1995-2011), Paul Kmec (1988-94) and Art Walker Sr. (1967-87).
A West-A graduate, Palko and his wife, Sally, live in that district. In addition to Tyler, his other son, Luke, and daughter, Amy, were athletes at West Allegheny. Tyler excelled at Pitt and eventually made it to the NFL as a quarterback.
Mt. Lebanon, which is the fifth-largest school in the WPIAL and lists 651 boys enrolled in grades 9-11, last won a WPIAL title in 2000 under Haering. Overall, the Blue Devils own six other district championships-1966, 1970, 1980-81, 1983-84.