Former player Mike Warfield accepts Aliquippa head coaching position

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, March 19, 2018 | 11:15 PM

Aliquippa’s next football coach is a former player from the 1980s, but not the one many had expected.

Former Quips quarterback Mike Warfield said the school board offered him the job Monday night and he accepted. The hire won’t be official until Wednesday’s board meeting.

Warfield, former NFL player Sean Gilbert and Cornell High School coach Ed Dawson were the three finalists to replace Mike Zmijanac.

“I owe everything to this program because it gave me so many opportunities,” said Warfield, a 1987 Aliquippa graduate, former Quips assistant coach and current state trooper. “It’s just a great opportunity to help other kids who are like me.”

Warfield, 48, worked the past four seasons as quarterbacks coach at Central Valley.

The Aliquippa school board voted 7-2 on Feb. 21 to replace Zmijanac, who had coached the team for 21 seasons. Zmijanac owned a career record of 237-36 with six WPIAL titles and one state championship.

Aliquippa received 25 applicants for the job. Seven candidates were interviewed last week and the finalists returned Monday to meet with the school board.

Warfield and Gilbert, who was rumored to be the favorite, were Aliquippa teammates in the 1980s, with Gilbert a sophomore when Warfield was a senior. Warfield later played quarterback at Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C. from 1987-91.

His son, Isiah Warfield, is a standout sophomore on Sewickley Academy’s basketball team and already lists a scholarship offer from Duquesne.

So proud of my Dad! Next Quip football Head coach!? #Warfieldway

— Isiah Warfield (@wardellwarfield) March 20, 2018

Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.

Tags: Aliquippa