DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. — An emotional school board meeting in Susquehanna Township on Tuesday night turned into a powerful display of community support for Joe Headen, who was unexpectedly let go from his position as head football coach at Susquehanna Township High School after more than two decades of dedicated service.
Residents packed the school district building, expressing their outrage and confusion over the board's decision not to renew Headen’s contract.
The decision came Monday after the district posted the job opening on its website. Community reaction came almost instantly,
The meeting was filled with a mix of anger, devastation, and heartfelt tributes to a coach who has been a cornerstone of the football program and a mentor to many young athletes. Community members shared stories highlighting the importance of Headen in their lives, emphasizing that his impact extends far beyond the football field.
"He’s taken me on so many life lessons," expressed Donovan Wertz, a former player on the high school football team. "I remember watching college football playoffs with him. It’s never about exes and ohs, it’s always about family with him."
The board's decision to reopen the head coach position came on Monday and shocked both Headen and the community. Residents started a petition resulting in over 2,000 signatures in less than 24 hours.
Headen expressed his heartbreak saying, "It was emotionally and mentally devastating because I had no idea."
Despite the coach leading the team to a commendable 9-1 season this past year, the board proceeded with its decision.
“I gave forty percent of my life to this,” Headen said outside the meeting. “And I was told even if you re-apply and you are the successful candidate, the board will not accept the recommendation.”
While board members remained tight-lipped regarding the specifics of their decision, citing that this is a personnel matter and cannot be discussed publicly, widespread community speculation surrounding the issue has only increased the intense emotion community members are feeling.
“Regardless of what the board does, there’s a room full of people who speak for the thousands of people who live in the township,” Wertz stated.
Despite the intense emotion surrounding the decision, Headen remains focused on the lessons he imparts to young athletes.
"It is about life and building those lifelong relationships," Headen said. "That means the world to me, and I’m going to continue to do that."
The board has indicated that the matter will be revisited in the future, but no timeline has been provided.