SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Former Syracuse football player and decorated Pennsylvania high school coach Bob Stem died Friday night. He was 84.
Stem was a member of the Orange’s 1959 National Championship team and 1960 team that beat Miami in the Liberty Bowl under legendary head coach Ben Schwartzwalder.
Stem was originally from Phillipsburg, New Jersey, and played center and linebacker for the team. He was drafted twice in the 1962 NFL Draft. The New York Giants selected him in the 19th round, and the Boston Patriots selected him in the 25th round. Stem went on to play a season with the Mohawk Valley Falcons of the Atlantic Coast Football League before taking over his alma matter as head coach.
In 34 seasons at the helm of Phillipsburg and Bethlehem Catholic, he compiled a 285-96-6 record, becoming the second-winningest head coach in the Lehigh Valley region.
