John Stopper

Outstanding athlete at Central Catholic High School. Nine-time letterman at Central; MVP in football and track. Led Central Catholic football in scoring three straight seasons (1963-65). Scored 19 career TD’s for the Cardinals. Led Central to Suburban Catholic title in 1964. Selected to Suburban Catholic first team (1964-65). Named first team running back in Berks County (1965). Earned a scholarship as a sophomore at Villanova University as a walk-on. Won three varsity letters at Villanova. Team’s top kick-off returner; scored 12 TD’s at Villanova. Player of the game three times in games vs. Buffalo, Santa Clara and Boston College. Returned kick-off 100 yards vs. Santa Clara (1969) tying a Villanova and NCAA record. Head football coach at Central Catholic (1980-83) with a record of 34-11-1, leading the Cardinals to the I.C. title and the District 3 title (1983) (Berks County’s first district team championship of any level). Head football coach at Muhlenberg High School (1985-88) with a record of 19-21-3. His football coaching career also includes being an assistant coach for two years at Villanova, four years at Wilson High School, four years at Albright College and four years at Conrad Weiser High School. Coached Berks County record holders Kerry Wrobel and Dave Gilmore, all-time leaders in pass completions, rushing and scoring.