Cornell High School head football coach Ed Dawson died Friday after collapsing on the field during a game against Rochester in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, according to the school and local reports.
Dawson told his assistant coach he wasn’t feeling well during the second quarter and sat down on the bench. Moments later, his condition worsened and he lay down on the turf.
“Next thing you know, he wasn’t moving,” Cornell athletic director Bill Sacco told TribLive.
An EMT on scene administered CPR before Dawson was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The game was stopped with Cornell leading 16-6 and was not resumed.
“Cornell will grieve for a long time,” Sacco said. “We lost a great guy. I am not sure how we will get back to where we need to be. I guess we’ll see what happens.”
School District Reacts
Cornell School District Superintendent Dr. Aaron Thomas issued a statement calling the school “heartbroken” over the loss.
“This is an extremely difficult situation. To say Coach Dawson was an integral part of Cornell School District would be an understatement. It is hard to put into words what Coach Dawson means to Cornell, and we are all heartbroken, crushed, and in shock,” Thomas said.
Thomas added: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Coach Dawson and his family. We have difficult days ahead, and we will lean on each other to get through them the best we can,” closing with, “We love you, Coach Dawson.”
Coaches Across the Region Pay Tribute
Donnie Militzer, head coach at Our Lady of Sacred Heart, described Dawson as a “welcoming guy … with a big personality,” saying his death “just crushed me.”
Fort Cherry coach Tanner Garry called Dawson a mentor. “He was a mentor, a leader, and exemplified what a coach should be, on and off the field. He was a great friend and a great leader,” Garry said.
Dawson took over as Cornell’s head coach in 2011 after previously serving as an assistant for both Cornell and Quaker Valley. Cornell entered Friday’s game at 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the Big 7 Conference, still fighting for a playoff spot.
