Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/25/23 – From Staff Report
Bishop Shanahan coach Jon Heisman became the all-time winningest boys’ team coach in Pennsylvania and the tri-state region tonight when his Bishop Shanahan Eagles toppled Oxford, 11-1, in a Ches-Mont League game.
The victory was the 513th for Heisman, who tied former La Salle mentor Bill Leahy 3 weeks ago, but saw his team lose five straight.
After the game, Heisman got a Gatorade shower from his team.
“It was a long time coming with five losses in a row,” said Heisman, whose team is 8-5 overall and 3-5 in the Ches-Mont. “I’m glad it’s over.
“Obviously, it’s not about me, it’s about our team and the kids.”
Colin Gaffney had three goals and two assists and Nate Bracken collected three goals and an assist for Shanahan. Devin Mullen had two goals and two assists.
Heisman, who formerly coached at Springfield-Delco and West Chester East and has been a head coach in Philly since 1988, has coached at Shanahan since 2010. He led the Eagles to back-to-back PIAAA 2A championships in 2018 and 2019. Heisman, a member of the Eastern PA Chapter of the USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame, also was Phillylacrosse.com Co-Coach of the Year in 2018.
“A couple kids reached out after tonight’s game,” said Heisman. “It was nice; the Boosters and everybody made it nice. I was hoping it would happen sooner, but you go through your ups and downs. I have been through everything.”
No other Philly boys’ team coach besides Heisman and Leahy has won 500 games in the state, though, former Haverford School coach John Nostrant won nearly all of his 500 victories with the Fords, also winning some in two seasons at Gilman School (MD) and one at St. Albans (DC).
Bishop Shanahan 11, Oxford 1
Shanahan
Colin Gaffney 3G, 2A
Devin Mullen 2G, 2A
Joe Devine 1A
Nate Bracken 3G, 1A
Ryan Weber 1G
Declan Miller 1G
Nick Snyder 1A
Trevor Barbadora 1A
Ben Mace 1G
Anthony Boffa 1A
Joe Pezone 10 saves
All-time Boys’ Team Coaching Win leaders (500 wins)
513 Jon Heisman (Springfield-Delco, West Chester East, Bishop Shanahan) 1988-Present
512 Bill Leahy (La Salle College) 1992-2019
500 John Nostrant (St. Albans-DC Have
