Wilson’s Doug Dahms faces unusual challenges as East’s Big School coach
2026 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
Doug Dahms has been a head coach for more than 250 football games. His Wilson teams have won most of them, in large part because he had the time and ability to select and train his players, and to make those critical game-planning and in-game decisions.
He’ll have none of that Sunday when he coaches the East all-stars in the annual PSFCA East/West Big School game at Cumberland Valley’s Chapman Field.
The East players and assistant coaches were selected by the Pennsylvania State Football Coaches Association, which also sets the rules for how you line up on defense and the plays you can call on offense.
Practice time was extremely limited, too; a couple of two-days weekend sessions late last month.
“Coaching All-Star games is a (real challenge),” said the 72-year-old Dahms, who has coached at Wilson for 50 seasons and been on the sidelines for 469 victories. “Especially now, when more and more colleges are grey-shirting (enrolling student-athletes in January of their senior year). So, you lose all those kids. And the Patriot League and places like that don’t want their kids to play in these (spring all-star games).”
There are spring sports commitments to deal with, as well as all the other school activities that peak at this time of year, leading up to graduation.
Dahms did not sign up for this job; he’d sooner be at Wilson track practice every day, or preparing for summer training activities as he heads into his 21st season as Bulldogs head coach.
“I got drafted,” he jokes. “They just called me and said you’re the head coach.”
Dahms did not turn the PSFCA down; he never turns anyone down.
While he would love to win, he’s taking a more laid-back approach than he generally employs when he’s wearing Wilson gear.
“(I told our players): ‘They’re gonna make big plays, we’re gonna make big plays,’ ” he said. “ ‘Go out and have fun, but try to make the plays.’ ”
He claims he did little pre-practice prep to learn about the ability of his players. Those assessments were made live, during the four practice sessions last month.
“I’m spending most of my time just trying to learn their names,” he jokes.
Dahms spent many years as Wilson’s defensive coordinator; he says that job is doubly tough in this kind of all-star competition where the defense must line up in a four-man front, must play man-to-man coverage, and is not allowed to stunt or blitz.
“Your hands are tied,” he said. “There’s only so many things you can do. You’re very limited. Your outside linebackers have to play man coverage on the wide receivers. It’s really hard to cover a wide receiver with a linebacker. (The setup of this game is) designed for the offense to score.”
The East has only 30 position players available, which means most will play special teams and some will see time on both sides of the ball, at least on a limited basis.
“We’re short two defensive lineman and short a linebacker,” Dahms said. “They (pulled out of the game) just before practices and it was too late to replace them. We’re very thin on the defensive line, so we’re moving some of the offensive linemen there.”
This coaching assignment is the latest in a long line of honors for Dahms.
Last year he was inducted into the PSFCA Hall of Fame. Previously he had been inducted to the Hall of Fame at his alma maters, Muhlenberg and Lebanon Valley; at Wilson; by the Berks County Football Coaches Association; and by the Berks Chapter of the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame.
Dahms has a 205-47 record at Wilson; his .813 winning percentage is the highest in Berks football history.
His resume as a head coach includes 14 Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 titles, including a record nine straight from 2008-2016. That span saw the Bulldogs win 68 straight league games, setting a Lancaster-Lebanon League record for any section.
In 2019 he became Wilson’s all-time wins leader, surpassing John Gurski’s record of 151 wins with a 14-7 victory at Hempfield.
Last season he became just the third coach in Berks history to record 200 wins, joining Bob Wolfrum and Rick Keeley.
His teams have won four District 3 championships – 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016 – and recorded four unbeaten regular seasons: 2008, 2010, 2013, and 2014.
He has been named Berks Coach of the Year twice, in 2008 and 2016; Section 1 Coach of the Year 13 times; and District 3 Coach of the Year three times.
Difficult as it will be to coach short-handed – something Dahms isn’t used to in a program that has recorded 50 straight winning seasons – he has enjoyed the experience.
“The best part about coaching in a game like this is getting to know the other coaches at a different level and getting to know the kids,” he said. “The kids are a lot of fun. I really enjoy being with them.”
Doug Dahms’ year-by-year record
| Season | Overall | League |
| 2025 | 9-3 | 5-1 |
| 2024 | 11-2 | 6-0 |
| 2023 | 7-4 | 5-1 |
| 2022 | 8-3 | 5-1 |
| 2021 | 9-4 | 5-0 |
| 2020 | 6-1 | 5-0 |
| 2019 | 10-2 | 5-1 |
| 2018 | 8-4 | 6-1 |
| 2017 | 8-4 | 6-1 |
| 2016 | 12-2 | 7-0 |
| 2015 | 10-2 | 7-0 |
| 2014 | 14-1 | 7-0 |
| 2013 | 12-1 | 7-0 |
| 2012 | 13-2 | 7-0 |
| 2011 | 12-2 | 7-0 |
| 2010 | 11-1 | 7-0 |
| 2009 | 11-2 | 7-0 |
| 2008 | 14-1 | 7-0 |
| 2007 | 9-4 | 5-2 |
| 2006 | 11-2 | 7-0 |
