HOME OF PENNCREST LIONS FOOTBALL
MEET THE COACHES
HEAD COACH - PAUL GRAHAM
Coach Paul Graham is in his second stint as head coach of the Penncrest Lions Football team. He served as interim head coach in 2004 and was head coach from 2008-2010, and then again from 2022 to present. Prior to assuming the head coaching role, he was assistant coach at Penncrest during the 2002-2003, 2005-2007, and 2020-2021 seasons. In addition to Penncrest, Coach Graham served as an assistant coach on Garnet Valley High School's championship teams. Coach Graham is also a mathematics teacher at Penncrest. He is married to Dr. Sarah Graham, principal at West Chester East High School, and father to sons Paul (12th grade) and Kevin (10th grade) on our team. During his playing days, Coach Graham was an All-Central, All-Delco, and All-Area offensive and defensive lineman at Upper Darby High School, and an All-Centennial Conference and D3 All-American defensive lineman at Ursinus College. Coaching is in Paul's blood, as his dad was a longtime area high school football coach, so it is no surprise that he, too, loves the game and was destined to coach. According to Paul, football "has taught me so much in my life. 'The team' and the concept of team is the most sure fire way to get to me. It's special, and if you've ever truly been a part of a real team, you will never forget it. The impact on young people and helping them go forward as successful adults is the gift that keeps on giving. Every time a grown man at Wawa says "Coach Graham," I'd be lying if I said I don't get a little choked up." The Penncrest Football team is family. To Coach Graham, a successful Penncrest Football season means that "the players maximize what they can do as young men and football players. If they do that, games take care of themselves."
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STEFAN DASHKIWSKY
WR & OLB Coach
Coach Stefan Dashkiwsky is in his 12th season coaching football for the Lions. Coach Dash also has coached baseball for 14 seasons and basketball for 5 seasons at Penncrest. In addition to coaching, he is a Health and Physical Education teacher. In his playing days, Coach Dash was a member of the Lions Football team as a wide receiver, tight end, and defensive end, then he walked on at West Chester University and was on the team for one year as a wide receiver and tight end. He believes that a successful Penncrest Football season is doing things the right way. “I am lucky to be where I am today and it is really fun to give back. It keeps me involved in the sports that I love.” In his spare time, Coach Dashkiwsky likes to fish and play basketball.
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LARRY JOHNSON
OL & DL Coach
Coach Larry Johnson is a Penncrest Class of ‘94 graduate and member of the Lions Football team where he was a linebacker, offensive guard, and captain. He has been an Assistant Football Coach at Penncrest from 1998-2014 and then returned to coach under Coach Paul Graham in 2022. He was also a freshman football coach at Garnet Valley High School from 2014-2022. In addition to football, he has been the Penncrest boys basketball varsity assistant coach from 1996-2003, the Penncrest girls basketball coach from 2021-2024, and the Penn State Brandywine Head Women’s Basketball coach from 2003-present, where he has won 4 Conference tournament championships, 5 regular season championships, and was named 5X PSUAC Coach of the Year. He is also a long-time Media Youth Center and Media Recreation Board Member. In addition to coaching, he is a support staff member at Penncrest. Larry is married to Jessica Johnson and is the father to Makayla (sophomore at Alvernia) and Larry Jr (9th grader). According to Coach Johnson, “I was born into coaching. My father, Lewis Jumbo Johnson, coached at the MYC, Rose Tree Colts, Media Babe Ruth, and Penncrest Football, Basketball, and Baseball. Coaching is in my blood! I love watching the players working hard and enjoying playing the game. Being able to give back to the community and kids in the program is an honor! Success is seeing the hard work that the kids put in on a daily basis. If they learn to work hard now, and overcome obstacles, they will become successful young men in life.”
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ZACH McMENAMIN
OL & DL Coach
Coach Zach McMenamin is in his 2nd season with Penncrest, after spending nine seasons at Interboro High School as an offensive and defensive line coach, strength coach, and offensive coordinator. As a player, he was a guard and defensive player for the Bucs and then went on to play defensive tackle for Lycoming College. He is married to Jess McMenamin and has a 4-year-old daughter, Hayden, and a 1-year old son, Colton, and is employed as a Healthcare Proposal Specialist. According to Zach, “I had great coaches growing up, so I feel it’s my duty to give back and pass on my knowledge of the game.” In fact, Coach Allison was his high school teacher and football coach in 2010, so he learned from the best! He would love to help bring a Central League and District Championship to Penncrest. When not coaching, Coach McMenamin loves cooking, golfing, and lifting.
ROBBIE MARSDEN
Assistant Line Coach
Coach Mars may be in his first season as a coach at Penncrest, but he has a long history with the Lions as a standout offensive and defensive lineman from 2007-2010 under Coach Graham. He played center his senior year and represented Penncrest in the 2011 Hero Bowl. He went on to play offensive line at Dickinson College where he was a starting guard and helped anchor the line that paved the way for the program's first 1,000 yard rusher in 24 years. He played in the 2015 Division III North vs South All-Star Game in Myrtle Beach, SC. Robbie has been teaching for the past 8 years in the School District of Philadelphia and will be joining the Penncrest faculty this year as a social studies teacher. In Philadelphia, Coach Mars established the football program at Vaux Big Picture High School and was the Cougar's head coach and offensive coordinator from 2020-2025. There, he was awarded the 2022 Philadelphia Eagles/NFL Coach of the Week and the 2025 Open Door Awareness and Abuse Prevention Coach of the Year. Additionally, he was a defensive coordinator for the Rose Tree Colts in 2018-2019, an assistant wrestling coach at Penncrest from 2011-2015 and 2017-2020, and the Heavyweights coach for West Chester Henderson High School from 2023-Present. According to Robbie, he coaches because he would not be the man he is today without the love, support, and constructive criticism of the impactful coaches in his life. "Coaches Graham, Dash, and Cunningham are three of those impactful individuals, and it makes me even more proud to come back and work alongside them to continue to drive culture and build future leaders out of our young people. A successful season in my return to donning the red and gold looks like building relationships with the Lion student-athletes and both empowering them and equipping them to become better football players and better young men." When not coaching, he enjoys tailgating at Eagles games, reading history books, lounging with his dogs, and training MMA. He is married to fellow member of the Penncrest Lions Class of 2011, Shelby, and they have 3 dogs, 2 cats, and no kids, yet!
JEFF ALLISON
Defensive Coordinator
Coach Jeff Allison has been at Penncrest as defensive coordinator since 2022. He served as outside linebackers coach and defensive coordinator at Interboro High School for 13 years, including coaching five District Championship appearances and winning 12 League Championships. Coach Allison was defensive coordinator for 11 years at Garnet Valley High School where he was part of the staff that earned five District Championship appearances and one District Championship. During his playing years, Jeff was an outside linebacker and running back for Interboro High School, then played strong safety and was a 2-year captain at Widener University. In addition to coaching, he is a teacher and Dean of Students at Interboro High School. He is married to Connie and is the proud father of Penncrest graduate daughters Lindsay (‘22 West Chester University graduate) and Maggie ‘19 (sophomore at University of Tennessee), and son Brody, a 9th grader on the team.
Jeff spends all of his spare time with his wife and kids. According to Coach Allison, he “loves our community and am committed to bringing Championship Football to them.” He loves the brotherhood that sports develops and wants each player to have a good time, while excelling on and off the field.
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BRAD GILBERT
RB & DB Coach
Coach Brad Gilbert is in his 3rd season coaching football for the Lions. He spent 20 years coaching the DBs and WRs at Upper Darby High School and as defensive coordinator, as well as 2 seasons at Springfield High School. In addition to football, he is a teacher and the Head Girls Track and Field Coach at Upper Darby where he has helped coach two Central League Championships, 39 state medal winners, and 5 state champions. He is married to Tabatha and is the father to a 18-year-old daughter, Madeson. In his playing days, he was a wide receiver, defensive back, and linebacker at Mifflinburg Area High School, then went on to play defensive back at Clarion University. He went into coaching because he loves the sport and “it would be awesome to see the players succeed this year, considering what the program has gone through. Especially the seniors!!” In his free time, Brad enjoys any activity that is outdoors.
SEAN WASSON
Assistant LB & RB Coach
Coach Wasson is in his first season as Assistant linebacker and running backs coach for the Lions. He has been a defensive coordinator, LB and RB coach for Interboro High School, including coaching them to a District 1 championship. As a player, Sean was a linebacker and running back for Interboro, where he was the 2004 Delaware County Daily Times Player of the Year. He went on to play linebacker at the University of Maine. Coach Wasson currently works for a Defense Contract Management Agency and is married to Amanda Wasson. In his spare time, he likes to garden and is a beekeeper.
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JIM CUNNINGHAM
Linebackers Coach
Coach Cunningham returns to his roots this season as a member of the Lions Football coaching staff. He was a linebacker and guard for Penncrest and a member of the Class of 1998. Jim previously served as a position coach and defensive coordinator for Penncrest from 1999-2010, including coaching the Lions' first playoff football win in 2009. He then went on to become a position coach and defensive coordinator for Downingtown West High School from 2011-2023, including coaching them to 3 Chestmont National League championships, 2 District championship appearances, and 1 District title in 2019. According to Coach Cunningham, "playing and coaching high school football completely changed the path of my life. I feel like I owe it to the sport to provide kids with the tools to help them develop into successful young men, both on and off the field. Being that I live in the Rose Tree Media School District, played here, and now coach here again, having a successful season means a lot to me. But more than that, I want the kids to experience the pride and fun of letting all of their hard work come to fruition." He has been married to his wife, Stacy, for 17 years.
NOAH HUMMEL
Team Manager
Noah Hummel is in his 14th season as manager with the Penncrest Lions Football team, having started during his sophomore year in 2012. Noah is the heart and soul of the Lions team and is integral in keeping the team hydrated during practices and games. He's 'Noah on the Spot' for every timeout and he is the first person players look for as they step off the field. Noah's favorite part of being manager is "hanging out with friends at practice and making sure they have water!" He also likes to be a part of the team on the sideline for every game. His favorite memory, so far, was from 2015 at Strath Haven when Penncrest blocked a field goal to win the Media Bowl Trophy and everyone rushed the field to celebrate. In addition to football, he also serves as team manager for Penncrest Wrestling and Baseball. Noah's hobbies include video games, watching ESPN, and everything Disney.