When people talk about the greatest football coaches in WPIAL history, George Novak’s name belongs near the very top. His résumé speaks for itself. The championships, the wins, the players he developed, and the dynasty he built at Woodland Hills have already secured his legacy.

But that’s not why he’ll always be one of the greatest to me.

When I finished playing overseas and started chasing my dream of becoming a head basketball coach, Coach Novak didn’t have to help me. I was a Penn Hills guy. We weren’t from the same school. He didn’t owe me a phone call, a recommendation, or anything else.

Yet he made the calls. He wrote recommendation letters. He picked up the phone and spoke to athletic directors on my behalf. He put his reputation on the line because he believed in me. He’s one of the biggest reasons I landed the head coaching job at Steel Valley. Coach Novak had deep connections in that area, and when he spoke, people listened.

I’ll never forget that.

As a young athlete, rivalries are everything. You’re taught Penn Hills versus Woodland Hills. But once I left for college and experienced life, I realized something bigger: great people are great people, regardless of what colors they wear.

Coach Novak saw past the rivalry. He respected my basketball career, but more importantly, he respected the type of person I was. He knew I was a good kid who was often misunderstood. That meant more to me than he’ll probably ever know.

A lot of coaches are remembered because they win games. The truly special ones change lives long after the scoreboard is turned off.

Coach George Novak is one of those people.

So while history will remember him as one of the greatest football coaches the WPIAL has ever seen, I’ll remember him as an even greater man.

Thank you, Coach. I’ll never forget what you did for me. You didn’t just help me get a job, you gave me an opportunity to chase a dream. You’ll always be one of the GOATs in my book.