Cambria County, PA — An NFL coach with ties to our area is about to participate in the "biggest game of his life."
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni trained college football players in our region over a decade ago.
Sirianni served as an assistant coach for the Crimson Hawks at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania around 2007, and some IUP alumni we spoke with say they’re not surprised that he has come this far.
“Sometimes you get some young guys who think they have all the answers, starting off in coaching. He was the exact opposite,” said Paul Tortorella, the current head football coach of the IUP Crimson Hawks.
Sirianni served as a wide receivers coach for the IUP Crimson Hawks for three years, from 2006 to 2008.
“He was young and very energetic, and he was really like a sponge. I mean, he was taking everything in and learning on the go.”
Tortorella also mentioned how Sirianni used to be a wide receiver before coaching. He says he believes that his experience as a player is what led to his ability to mentor his current players with ease.
“I think he learned a lot, probably playing at Mount Union, and then coming here, schematically”
Here's what Sirianni told Fox Sports about the teams’ opportunity to go to the Super Bowl.
“This is something you dream about as a kid, and all these guys have dreamt about this their entire lives too. Just to be able to do this together with a bunch of men, that love each other, that are connected to each other, that would do anything for each other, it’s pretty sweet.”
Sirianni is now the second Eagles head coach to reach the Super Bowl in his first two seasons.
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