HEAD COACH

Former Garnet Valley standout quarterback Eric Van Wyk is in his fourteenth season as a coach and his fourth season as Head Coach, after taking over for Mike Ricci. Eric was the Freshman Head Coach for ten years prior to becoming the Varsity Head Coach.

In his first year at the helm in 2022, the Jags went undefeated in the regular season earning a share of the Central League title, and then went on to win the PIAA 6A District One Championship ending in a 13-1 Season, one game away from the State Championship.  In 2023 the Jags took another share of the central league championship with a 9-3 record.

In High School, as a senior, Van Wyk quarterbacked the 2007 Jaguars to the state championship game against Thomas Jefferson. A 2008 alumnus of the school, he went on to pitch for four years at La Salle University and earn All-Big 5 team honors in 2010, as well as an Atlantic-10 Scholar Athlete award.

Van Wyk enjoyed the life lessons that he picked up through the program, as well as the beliefs of selflessness, character and hard work to go along with the positive impact that the coaches have had on his life. He will be heading to the HS this year to teach History after 13 years at the middle school.

Eric is a camp director at the Garnet Valley Sports Camps, a camp with seven different weeks of sports located at Garnet Valley Middle School.

He and his wife, Hilary, have a four-year-old named Jude and one-year-old named Kennedy.

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Coach Burba is entering his third year at Garnet Valley, this is his first as the Offensive Coordinator. A 2017 Garnet Valley graduate, Coach Burba was a key leader and wide receiver for the 2016 Jaguars that made it to our first ever 6A PIAA District One Championship. After GV, Coach Burba attended West Chester University where he became an undergraduate assistant for the football program under legendary Head Coach Bill Zwaan. 

Coach Burba is a Life Skills Teacher at Springton Lake Middle School where he works with students to reach their individual academic, social, and behavioral goals. He is currently finishing up his master’s degree at Neumann University where he will receive a degree in Special Education and Early Education.

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Marc Panepinto has been a mainstay on the Jaguars’ coaching staff for over a decade. In his 16th year on the staff and 3rd as the Defensive Coordinator. He first joined the team as an assistant freshman coach then moved to the varsity staff in 2010. He first worked with the varsity running backs before joining “the dark side” as a defensive assistant coach in 2015. He was also the head JV coach before becoming the DC in 2022. 

A 2003 Boyertown alum, Panepinto was the PAC-10 Player of the Year and a two-time All-Berks County selection. He was an Outstanding Scholar-Athlete at Moravian College, where he graduated in 2007, and served as a co-captain at both schools. He coached for a year at his alma mater as the running backs coach before joining the Jaguars’ staff in 2008.

A social studies teacher at Garnet Valley for the past 15 years, Coach P cites the brotherhood amongst the players as his favorite part of Garnet Valley football. He lives with his wife, Krystle and their daughters Elle (4) and Brie (2).

OFFENSIVE LINE

This is Coach Stroup’s 9th season back at Garnet Valley after spending 6 seasons as Penncrest’s head coach. He previously served as an assistant coach at Garnet Valley from 2000-2010. During that span, Stroup’s role as the Jags defensive coordinator was integral to their multiple District Championships, Central League Championships and state title game run.

Stroup broke into coaching in 1978 at Kutztown University and never looked back. Since then he has been a head coach at Sun Valley, Oxford, and Penncrest High Schools, as well as an assistant coach at West Chester University, Cheyney University and Swarthmore College. Stroup graduated from Kutztown in 1977, and during his career was an all PSAC linebacker, and Cocaptain his senior year. A 1973 product of Lehighton High School, he garnered All Lehigh Valley League honors as a tight end and defensive end, and was inducted  into the Carbon County Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018. Stroup enjoys working with all of the young men and their families, as well as all of the coaches.  Stroup and his wife Vanessa have 4 children: Jason, Jon, Kara and Kate all GV alums and athletes. They also have 8 grandchildren Nora, Lucy, Milo, Owen, and Evan, children of Jason and his wife Amanda, and Adeline,Austen and Annabell  children of Jon and his wife, Jenna.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Patt enters his 27th season as a volunteer assistant OL coach. He started his career at his alma mater, Strath Haven--while he was there they won 2 PA State Championships. He then came to Garnet Valley and was there for 10 years, where he went back to Hershey with the team in 2007. He then moved to St Joe’s Prep with his eldest son, Jackson (Lehigh University Football 2020), where they won the state Championship three out of four years. After his tenure at St. Joe’s Prep he rejoined GV as an assistant with the 8th grade team, following his son Bear (class of 2022) through the program. Patt and his wife, Michelle, have resided in the Garnet Valley for 27 years; during that time, they have been active volunteers for the Jags within the lacrosse and football communities. Their daughter, Peyton is a product of the GVSD and is now getting her Masters at ST Joe's and was a 3x cheer captain at Ursinus College.  Their youngest, “Bear” enters his Senior year as a lacrosse player at York College.  In his time as a player, Patt was All Delco at 3 different positions for three years at Strath Haven before moving on to the University of Minnesota where he was All Big Ten and a captain of his team. He was a member of the practice squad for the Dallas Cowboys when they won the Super Bowl in 1993, but he doesn't like to tell his dad, Mike, who was the starting center for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1968-1973. The only member of the family who can handle such news is their loyal dog, Buckley.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Tommy Mahoney enters his first season coaching. He will be assisting Coach Stroup and Coach Evans with the offensive line. Coach Mahoney is a 2018 Garnet Valley graduate. While at GV, he became first team All-Delco and first team All-State. 

After graduating from GV, Coach Mahoney went to Lackawanna Junior College, where he helped take the Falcons to a national championship. Two years later, Tommy transferred to Tusculum University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration. On the field, he became an All-American, 2x First Team All-Conference, and two year captain.

After Tusculum, Coach Mahoney played professionally for the Northern Arizona Wranglers in the IFL. That season, the Wranglers lost in the semifinal game of the playoffs.  

Coach Mahoney’s day job is a foreman in the family landscaping/construction business.

TIGHT ENDS

Coach Perslweig started his coaching career with the Our Lady of Fatima CYO program, from 1997-2001. In 2002, he started teaching special education and helping with the football program at GVHS. Coach Perslweig was a member of Jaguar coaching staff through the 2010 season; following that season, he spent 4 years working with Coach Stroup at Penncrest High School. In 2016, he returned to coaching at GV. He spent a year with the freshman program and coached the middle school lightweight team from 2017 - 2019. He returned to coach at the high school level in 2020, when he assumed responsibility for the teams’ tight ends.

Coach Perlsweig graduated from Cardinal O'Hara and West Chester University and says that he most enjoys watching the development of the players, the relationships with the families, and the lifelong relationships that carry on well after they graduate from GV. This year will be his 24th year teaching at Garnet Valley, serving as the Child Study Team Coordinator at the high school. Perlsweig lives in Garnet Valley with his wife, Deb, and their daughter, Abby (GV 2031).

TIGHT ENDS

A lifelong member of the Garnet Valley football program, Coach Jon Ricci enters his 3rd year in “official” capacity as a member of the staff. The son of longtime GV Head Coach Mike Ricci, Jon spent his summers from the age of 3 through 18 with the GV program, staying at camp, directing traffic, serving as a water boy and a ball boy, and finally as a tight end on one of GV’s most accomplished teams, the 2017 District 1 6A finalists.

Following his tenure at GV, Ricci enrolled at the University of Delaware, where he majored in Criminal Justice and Sociology, earned a Master’s Degree in International Business, and earned 4 letters as a tight end.

QUARTERBACKS

Jonathan Flynn is entering his 6th year as a part of the GVHS coaching staff, after previously coaching at Brandywine High School, in Wilmington, DE. A 1992 of Garnet Valley, Flynn played quarterback, safety and punter--and was the team’s Scholar/Athlete Award winner in 1991. In 1996, he graduated from Cheyney University, where he excelled both on and off of the field. A three-time captain, Flynn was the team’s QB and punter--and was also his class’s valedictorian. Flynn is also a mentor, Advisor to the Trauma Informed Education Coalition and a Board President for the Media Fellowship House.

Flynn loves the life lessons from Garnet Valley football both as a player and now as a coach, and is inspired by the hard work and dedication present at all levels of the program. Flynn is married to his wife, Jen..

RUNNING BACKS
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

For almost two decades  (since 2007), JP Battiste has been an invaluable member of the Garnet Valley football coaching staff. He is the brains behind the Jaguars’ brawn as he developed, monitored, evaluated and improved the current, widely acclaimed strength and conditioning program. This off season players endured both strength, conditioning and mental toughness exercises by doing hard things and embracing metabolic conditioning.

A 1994 graduate of West Chester East and a 2000 product of West Chester University, Battiste has carved out a reputation for himself as an exceptional Strength and conditioning coach. One of the Philadelphia Eagles former strength coaches called Battiste’s a “phenomenal program,” and Garnet Valley is annually one of the strongest teams in the area. His favorite aspect of the program is the summer lifting, where he gets the most time to develop the will to do hard things. 

A man of few words, Battiste commands attention when he does speak. He was a 2014 Crossfit Regional Athlete. He has been a special education teacher for the past 20 years. Coach Battiste and his wife Caitlin have two sons, Ashton and Finnegan.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Coach O’Leary is a proud Garnet Valley graduate (Class of 2012) and former Jaguar quarterback & wide receiver. After four years of playing college football at Ursinus, he returned to Garnet Valley in 2018 to assist coaching the freshman team. In 2020, he launched his own strength and conditioning business dedicated to training and mentoring youth and high school athletes.

At his core, Coach O’Leary is still that high school kid who loves to compete — and he now channels that passion into being a “big brother” figure for the athletes he coaches. His mission is to help kids build confidence, character, and resilience both on and off the field. He believes in preparing the child for the path, not the path for the child.

Coach O’Leary holds certifications in RKC, DSPCC L1 + L2, Running Mechanics Professionals L1, Moment Mentorship Cohort 1, First Principles of Movement Mentorship Cohort 5, KBCU L1 + L2, and is also a Jay Shetty Certified Life Coach. He serves on the Student Athlete Wellness Advisory Council (SAWAC) for GoldenMinds and hosts the You Can’t Fool You podcast.

DEFENSIVE LIN

This is Zach Liggitt's 3rd year on the Garnet Valley Coaching Staff. He will be coaching the outside linebackers for our Varsity/JV teams. This is also Zach's 2nd year as a teacher in the Garnet Valley School District, and he will be teaching 6th grade language arts at Garnet Valley Middle school. 

Zach Liggitt graduated from Northampton Area High School in 2018. Just this past spring of 2023 Zach graduated from West Chester University. While attending West Chester University Zach was a two time captain of their football program. He was also selected as a first team all conference player twice while playing for the West Chester Rams. One of Zach's highest priorities has always been to form lifelong connections with students/players while also preparing them to be fantastic young adults.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Ryan Canzanese enters his second season coaching the defensive line.  A proud alum of Garnet Valley in 2009, Coach Canzanese was a key contributor on the defensive line for the 2007 team that went to a state championship.  His senior year he was a leader of the defense that went undefeated and won the first ever central league for Garnet Valley.  

Coach Canznese is a police officer in Delaware County along with being on the Delaware County SWAT Team.  We thank Coach Canzanese for his service to our community and country!  Coach Canzanese and his wife have a young son Maverick.

DEFENSIVE LINE

2019 Graduate of Garnet Valley and captain of the 2018 Central League Champions. Graduate of Widener University. Member of the Jeff Hill Coaching Tree

LINEBACKERS

Dave Wrzesniewski is a Garnet Valley resident and joined our staff 14 years ago. He coached the defensive line for two years and has spent the last 12 years working with our inside linebackers.

Coach Wrez played inside linebacker/fullback at Strath Haven, where he graduated from in 1990. He later graduated from Duquesne University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, where he played two seasons before injuries halted his career. He also devoted 12 years volunteering at the Brandywine Youth Club as a coach, board member and football committee member.  

Coach Wrez takes full advantage of the opportunity to give everything he has to make Garnet Valley’s players successful on the field, but even more importantly, in life. He enjoys sharing his perspective, mentoring, developing leadership, and watching our young men grow and mature.

His day job is as the Manager of Regional Pharmacy Operations for Giant Food Stores in Southeastern PA, where he’s worked for since 1995, Coach and his wife, Polly, a teacher at Love & Learn Preschool, have two children, Grace (GV 2018, PSU 2022, WCU 2024) and Will (GV 2022, PSU 2026).

LINEBACKERS

Craig D. Stephenson begins his eighth season on the Garnet Valley football coaching staff this season. 2011-2013 and 2017 to the present.

Stephenson brings plenty of coaching experience to the staff with 27 years at John Dickinson (Del.), including 17 as the head football coach and earning a spot in the school’s Hall of Fame. He also spent three years on the Sun Valley High staff, working with running backs and linebackers.

Stephenson was a first-team junior college All-American at Wesley Junior College, where he was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009. A first-team All-Blue Hen Conference running back at John Dickinson High School (DE), he also matriculated at Duke University, where he was selected to play in the 1974 Blue and Gray Football Classic.

Stephenson proclaims to, above all else, enjoy the experience of Garnet Valley football, from the coaches, players, managers, school staff, students and parents. A proud Vietnam War veteran, Stephenson earned a Bachelor of Science from West Chester University in 1990. He and his wife, Susan, have a daughter, Leslie and her husband Marco.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Lance Panarello has been a mainstay on the Garnet Valley football coaching staff for more than two decades. He enters his 28th season on the Jaguars’ staff, where he works with the team’s defensive backs unit.

A 1990 Garnet Valley alumnus, he won the Garnet Valley Football Coaches Award, his most proud achievement. He also serves as the BYC football Board. Coach Panarello has coached at BYC from 2006-2023. He earned the Marcus Hook Oldtimers community service award in 2014.

Coach Panarello has a gift to relate lessons learned through football to the lessons that players will need to be successful in their lives. Players routinely come to him for advice and guidance. Coach Pep is so fortunate to be coaching his two sons and all their friends he has had since they were little.

He operates Dental Health Care Associates, Delaware County’s first green office. He and his wife, Jama, have two children, Roman (GVHS class of 2024) and Wyatt (GVHS class of 2026).

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Julius Flynn has coached at Garnet Valley for more than 15 years. A 1986 alumnus of the school, he has helped the Jaguars produce several top-flight defensive backs and lockdown pass defenses. His players are known for their footwork, their intelligent play--and for their ability to hang on to the 80 mile per hour bullets he throws!

Flynn has also coached at Brandywine High before returning to his alma mater. He was the first player in Cheyney history to earn first-team All-PSAC in all four seasons. A Cheyney Hall of Famer, he was the school’s Athlete of the Year and an All-American nominee in 1989. He also collected a host of East Coast Athletic Conference awards.

Flynn serves as an educator at the Conrad School of Science. He and his wife, Lisa, have two daughters, Dominque and Skylar.

SAFETIES
SPECIAL TEAMS

Chris Quintans is entering his 3rd season with the Garnet Valley football staff following stints as a coach at Sun Valley and Penncrest. After two seasons coaching freshman football at Penncrest, Coach Quintans spent six seasons serving Sun Valley as the special teams coordinator, defensive coordinator, and assistant head coach.

Coach Quintans is a 2009 graduate of Penncrest High School, where he received All-Delco honors, was the recipient of the Phil Marion Most Courageous Athlete in Delaware County Award, and was a 2009 Hero Bowl participant. He is a 2013 graduate of Bloomsburg University and 2018 graduate of La Salle University. He has also been Sun Valley’s head baseball coach from 2019-2021.

Quintans is a math teacher who enjoys teaching his students and athletes how to find success through working hard, building healthy relationships, and serving others. The culture of “oneness” is his favorite part of Garnet Valley football. Coach Quintans is married to his wife, Christina.rite part of Garnet Valley football.

SAFETIES

Bio Coming Soon

KICKERS
SPECIAL TEAMS

Greg Mink is in his 23rd season on the coaching staff here at his alma mater. He works with the kickers and special teams and oversees all of the technology components within the program. Greg is also in his 4th year providing play-by-play for our game night livestreams. As a coach during the week and an announcer on game nights, Mink provides a uniquely interesting perspective on Friday nights.

Mink graduated from Garnet Valley in 1988 and from Shippensburg University in 1992, where he excelled as a kicker. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Jaguars’ kicking game and a historical perspective of the program that the players love to hear him share. He loves the program’s family atmosphere and the emphasis on doing things the right way.

Senior Technology Analyst with Christiana Care Health System. Mink and his wife, Carrie (GV '89 Alum), have three children: Makenna (GV ‘18/Penn State ‘22), Cullen (GV ‘21/Penn State ‘25, and GV Football alum) and Merrin (GVHS class of ‘25Univ of Richmond ‘29).

LINEBACKERS

Bio Coming Soon

ASSISTANT

Coach O is a 2014 alumni of Garnet Valley High School. After GV, Curtis was accepted into Millersville’s integrative studies program. At Millersville, Coach Ostrowski got involved in a men’s group where they talked about issues personally and professionally.

After Millersville he got involved with AmeriCorps with that. And most recently, Coach was a camp counselor for kids and adults with different disabilities in Wisconsin. Coach loves Positively impacting the lives of others and he can’t wait to help these young men in more than just football.

HEAD COACH - FRESHMAN

Casey Simpkins enters his fifth year as a member of the Garnet Valley football staff, and his fourth as the head coach of the GV Freshman football program.

Prior to Garnet Valley, Coach Simpkins spent two seasons as a Freshman football assistant at Strath Haven and three developing the offensive and defensive lines at Sun Valley, along with serving as the program’s Freshman head coach for one season.

Coach Simpkins is a 2009 graduate of Interboro High School, where he received all-league honors, the program’s scholar athlete award, and was a 2009 Hero Bowl participant. He is a 2013 graduate of West Chester University and holds master’s degrees from Wilkes University and Wilmington University. 

In addition to coaching, Coach Simpkins teaches English at Garnet Valley High School. He and his wife, Briana, have a son named Ace and daughter named Penelope.