Penn State Behrend issued the following announcement on Feb. 28.
A brilliant high school coaching career that featured 20 years as the head coach of the Cathedral Prep Ramblers comes to end today for Mike Mischler. He has announced he is retiring. It is borderline impossible to properly describe all that Mischler has accomplished on and off the field at Prep.
A 1987 graduate of the school, Mischler took over as head coach of the varsity program in 1998 and immediately turned it into relevancy, advancing to the state semifinal game that season. A year later in 1999, Mike would make the first of his eight trips to Hershey for the state championship game, finishing that season as state runner-up. In 2000, he would lead the school to their first football state title in an epic 41-35 overtime victory over Central Bucks West in a matchup of nationally ranked schools.
After leaving the school for a short time between 2005-2008, Mischler returned in 2009 to start a second, epic run of success. In a seven-year span, the Ramblers would win four more state championships (’12, ’16, ’17, ’18) while playing in the game four consecutive years (all vs. Imhotep Charter). Along the way, the accolades continued to roll in for Mischler. Five times, he was named the Pennsylvania Coach of the Year. On four separate occasions, his Ramblers were nationally ranked by various organizations.
His school records were just as impressive. Mike holds the mark for most victories in school history with 214, which is 83 more than Hall of Famer Mina George. For perspective, those two are the only coaches in Prep history with at least 59 coaching wins. His Rambler record of 214-50 is good for an .811 winning percentage while his playoff record was an incredible 59-18. Along the way, he guided Prep to 16 District 10 championships, 16 Metro/Region crowns and his team’s made 11 appearances in the state’s final four.
But more than any win that Mischler garnered, his legacy at Prep will be that of molding young men on and off the field. His culture and team building was the foundation of his success. He has also been known for his tireless work in placing students into college football programs for those that wanted to continue their careers, spending endless hours promoting his players for opportunities at the next level.
“Today I have officially retired as the head football coach at Cathedral Prep,” Mischler said. “It is important to note that this was 100% my decision. The school and my family have been nothing but supportive as I have struggled with making the most difficult decision of my life. I have thought and prayed about this for many months and even years. There is not time to list the many factors that went into making this decision, but I can best sum it up by simply saying it is just time to do so. Nothing I put into this brief statement can encapsulate the many blessings I have received in my role as head coach at Prep. It was a life-long dream to have the opportunity to coach here. I can honestly say it has been the honor of my professional life to serve in this capacity.”
In his final season on the sidelines for the Ramblers, Mischler guided Prep to an 11-2 record while advancing to the state quarterfinals.
“There are no words to properly illustrate the impact that Mike Mischler has made on the young men of Cathedral Prep,” said Prep VP of Athletics, Bill Flanagan. “The wins have been great. The state championships noteworthy. But the lasting impact of what Mike has accomplished here resides in moving people to heights they felt were impossible to achieve. His ability to uniquely care for the person, not the player, is unmatched. It is a legacy far greater than any of the many titles he has won.”
A 2015 inductee into the Erie Metro Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, Mike will soon be honored in a similar way in the Cathedral Prep Athletic Hall of Fame.
“I want to thank the Prep administration, my coaches and staff members, parents, boosters and fans as well as the Erie community for their support of our program,” Mischler said. “Of course, above all else I would like to thank the hundreds of young men that I have had the blessing and privilege to coach during my 20 years as head coach. My heart is full of fond memories. I coached everyday with love for you and a football program I will forevermore hold dear to my heart. I hope you will always strive to be great Men of Prep.”
Original source can be found here.
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