Ed Dawson, a Pennsylvania high school football coach, died Friday night after collapsing on the sideline during a game in Rochester, Pennsylvania.
Cornell High School superintendent Dr. Aaron Thomas, 47, confirmed that Dawson was transported from Rochester High School to a local hospital, where he later died. The call to first responders indicated an individual had suffered cardiac arrest on the football field sideline.
“It’s gonna be Rochester Area school district … at the football field for a cardiac arrest on the sideline,” an individual said on the emergency call, according to WPXI.
Dawson had told an assistant coach he was not feeling well during the second quarter and was advised to sit down, ultimately lying down on the bench, Cornell athletic director Bill Sacco told Trib Live.
“Next thing you know, he wasn’t moving,” Sacco said to the outlet.
Medical responders attempted CPR for several minutes before sending him to the hospital, Sacco added. The game ended early with Cornell leading 16-6.
“There will be discussions with a large group of people deciding what the next step will be,” Sacco told Trib Live. “It will be a hard one no matter what step we take.”
Sacco continued, “Cornell will grieve for a long time. We lost a great guy. I am not sure how we will get back to where we need to be. I guess we’ll see what happens.”
Dawson became the coach at Cornell, based in Coraopolis, in 2011. He led the team to both its first conference title and outright conference championship, according to the Beaver County Times, and posted a 49-54 record leading the program.
“This is an extremely difficult situation. To say coach Dawson was an integral part of Cornell School District would be an understatement. It is hard to put into words what Coach Dawson means to Cornell and we are all heartbroken, crushed, and in shock,” Thomas said in a statement.
Thomas added, “We will work to ensure our students and staff have the resources they need and right now our thoughts and prayers are with coach Dawson and his family. We have difficult days ahead and we will lean on each other to get through them the best we can. We love you, coach Dawson.”
Coraopolis mayor Michael Dixon paid tribute on Facebook, writing, “Tonight our community lost one of its giants. The wins mattered. The young men he shaped mattered more. Coach Dawson looked for the positive in every game and in every kid, and he taught them to sweat the details and never quit. Generations of Cornell and Nazareth Prep players grew into better men because he believed in them before they believed in themselves. …Thank you, Coach. We love you, and we will not forget what you built here.”
Cornell School District has not announced plans for memorial services.