Archbishop Wood is looking for a new football coach following the resignation of Tom Magdelinskas after five seasons.
Magdelinskas announced his decision to step down at the team's banquet on Sunday. His teams were 25-29, including 5-6 last season.
The Vikings made the Catholic League playoffs for the first time in 11 seasons in 1998. They made the playoffs in each of the last three seasons under Magdelinskas.
"Each year with Tom the team showed progress in competitiveness," said John Sharp, Wood's athletic director, "obviously with this year being their best year."
Last season, the Vikings won their first-round Blue Division playoff game, 37-14, over Cardinal Dougherty. They lost in the division semifinals, 28-21, to Bishop McDevitt.
"I feel good about things," Magdelinskas said. "I'm leaving a well-stocked team. My personal way of looking at it is that I'm leaving it better than I found it."
Heading up the list of returnees for the Vikings will be three key members from last year's team. Quarterback John Spinosa, lineman Keary Packer, and running back Bill Hartley will give Magdelinskas' replacement important blocks on which to build. Both Packer and Hartley were selected to The Inquirer's all-area team for Bucks and Montgomery Counties.
Magdelinskas, who teaches at Neshaminy High, plans to enter an accelerated 18-month program to secure a degree to become a principal. He also expressed a desire to spend more time with his sons, ages 7 and 4.
"I didn't have a lot of time to be a dad," he said. "I wanted to start this program last year, but I didn't want to walk away from that team. This team coming back is pretty solid."
Sharp said that, according to school rules, the job would be posted in all archdiocesan schools for 30 days. Applicants from outside the archdiocese also will be considered.
Following the 30-day period, a screening committee would conduct interviews, Sharp said.
Sharp said he hoped to have the process completed by March. In the interim, several members of the previous staff have volunteered to help oversee off-season weight-lifting.
Beth Huffman's e-mail address is bhuffman@phillynews.com
