Aliquippa’s Mike Warfield taking ‘leave of absence’ as Quips’ football coach

By: Chris Harlan
Monday, July 15, 2024 | 5:05 PM

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Mike Warfield says football fans will see him at Aliquippa’s stadium this fall, but adds with a laugh that his new job on Friday nights might be selling 50/50 tickets.

Surprisingly, the three-time state champion coach won’t be coaching the Quips.

Warfield went 74-6 in six years as head coach at his alma mater but announced Monday he’s taking a “leave of absence” this season. He privately had considered stepping away previously, in part because of work-related commitments, but his decision surely caught many by surprise.

His teams won four WPIAL titles and three state championships.

“It’s something I’ve been thinking about for the last few years,” said Warfield, a retired Pennsylvania State Trooper who started a new career two years ago with McKesson pharmaceuticals.

“Imagine doing something for 25 or 30 years, jumping into this (coaching position) and then having another occupation with McKeeson that’s challenging,” Warfield added. “It’s time for a little break.”

Aliquippa is coming off a 14-0 season that included the first undefeated state championship in team history. Football teams start heat acclimation for the upcoming season Aug. 5.

In a letter addressed to “Quip Nation,” Warfield said he still would be around to support the football team and the boosters program. He also tried to alleviate any worries that there was some underlying reason for his decision.

“For those who are concerned, I sincerely appreciate that, but don’t be!” he wrote. “My health is good, my family is good and I’m good. After 25 years as a Pennsylvania State Trooper … three years with the United States Attorney’s Office and now working at McKesson Pharmaceuticals, it’s time for a short recess.”

A 1987 Aliquippa graduate, Warfield, 55, has worked as a regulator affairs manager for McKesson since August 2022.

Two of his assistants will run the football program in his place. He said Vashawn Patrick will serve as interim head coach, and Jaleel Fields is associate head coach. Longtime defensive coordinator Dan “Peep” Short also remains with the program along with other assistants.

Warfield said he “absolutely” could be back coaching in 2025. But he also made clear his belief that the younger generation of coaches has earned a chance to lead.

“I could stay five or 10 more years and pad my record and maybe win a championship or two more,” Warfield said. “But my responsibility also is to the future of the program. Not just five years down the road but 25 years down the road. We can’t afford to lose these young, talented coaches we have, like Coach Patrick and Coach Fields. They’re going to take us into the future.”

Warfield won’t be the team’s coach this season but said he’ll continue to be “fully engaged” in Aliquippa’s legal battle with the PIAA over its competitive-balance rule. The school district sued to keep the PIAA from moving the football team to Class 5A, but that litigation isn’t over.

A Commonwealth Court hearing Tuesday will decide whether the preliminary injunction that’s keeping Aliquippa in Class 4A should remain in place.

As of now, the Quips will remain in the Parkway Conference, where they haven’t lost a game in four years. They will enter the fall as likely WPIAL favorites as well.

“I don’t want people to look at this as a negative thing,” Warfield said of his decision. “We have a bright future with the talented coaches that we have.”

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Aliquippa