Southern’s Jim Roth the first in Pennsylvania to 500 football wins
2024 Berks football coverage
presented by UECU
It was only a matter of time before Pennsylvania’s winningest football coach reached his next milestone.
Southern Columbia’s Jim Roth was denied his 500th victory in the season-opener at Wyomissing but got it six days later when the Tigers defeated Loyalsock 47-0.
Roth, in his 41st season at Tigers head coach, surpassed George Curry four years ago as the state’s winningest coach. His record now stands at 500-69-2.
Curry, who coached at three schools, most notably Berwick, is No. 2 at 455-99-5.
Wyomissing’s Bob Wolfrum, with a 351-88-1 record, ranks No. 6 all-time in the state and is No. 2 among active coaches.
Roth would’ve reached 500 much sooner had it not been for Wolfrum. Wyomissing has beaten Southern twice in last four years. It won 35-21 on Aug. 24; it won the only other meeting 41-21 at Southern in 2021.
Roth’s teams have won seven consecutive PIAA championships and a record 14 overall.
Wolfrum became the winningest coach in District 3 history last year, surpassing Manheim Central’s Mike Williams, who won 348 games.
Kevin Clancy of Strath Haven ranks No. 3 among active coaches, with 359 wins.
The late Tim Rimpfel, who coached at Trinity, Bishop McDevitt and Cumberland Valley, is the only other District 3 coach with 300 wins. He retired with a 307-100-3 record.
