Neshaminy High School hires Mike Frederick as head coach of the Redskins football squad.
By Matt Schickling
Wire Staff Writer
Neshaminy High School’s football team had a homecoming celebration earlier than expected this year.
The Neshaminy Board of School Directors voted unanimously to approve the hiring of Mike Frederick, former Neshaminy football star, at a public meeting on April 22.
His resume includes playing experience at the collegiate level with the University of Virginia and in the NFL across five seasons with the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans. But Frederick has never before been a head coach. Except for one stint as an assistant high school coach in the early 2000s, he’s always been a player.
“Mike’s been around football since he’s been knee-high,” Tom Magdelinskas, athletic director at Neshaminy, said. “He’s had the opportunity, from middle school onward, to see over two-dozen coaches and two-dozen different approaches.”
Frederick gained fame through a successful career as a defensive end, linebacker and tight end at Neshaminy High, earning all-state recognition. He graduated in 1990, and went on to captain the 1994 Virginia Cavaliers as a defensive end. He was twice named the team’s defensive MVP.
From there, he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 1995 NFL draft. In his fifth and final season in the NFL, he was on the Titans roster for the memorable Super Bowl XXXIV, where Tennessee was defeated 23–16 by the St. Louis Rams. After retiring from pro football, he earned his MBA from UNC-Chapel Hill and is currently a partner in a financial industry firm.
But despite all of his football experience, he was required to apply just like everyone else.
“Mike reached out initially via email,” Magdelinskas said. “After that, we sat and talked for probably a good hour or two, then he went home and submitted a formal application.”
Nineteen people expressed interest in the job, 15 formally applied and 12 were eventually interviewed for the position, Magdelinskas said. It was brought to four final applicants, and Frederick proved to be the most qualified.
This hiring follows the unexpected resignation of former head coach Mark Schmidt, who last year took the team to the PIAA Class AAAA semifinals, where they were defeated by eventual champion St. Joseph’s Prep. Schmidt, who has the most wins of any Neshaminy coach, led the Redskins through 20 seasons, three district championships and one state title.
“There’s many roads to success. Mark had a fiery, aggressive approach. Mike’s going to have a different approach, but no less intense,” Magdelinskas said. “He brings a calming influence. When you talk to him, you can see he has a slow burn that will work well with our team.”
Although no announcements have been made for changes within the coaching staff, Magdelinskas expects that many of the team’s current coaches will stay on board under Frederick.
Schmidt was not involved in the hiring process and does not expect to be involved with the team moving forward, but offers support for his successor and his former team.
“I’m sure there will be a period of adjustment, but the attitude is certainly in a good place. I’m sure Mike has a plan going into the job and knows how to implement that plan,” Schmidt said. “I wish him nothing but the best, and hope they have a great season.”
