Carl Schnellenbach, a longtime teacher and coaching icon at Ridley High School known simply as Schnell, died last month at the age of 84, write Terry Toohey and Matthew DeGeorge for the Delaware County News Network.

Schnell was a titan in the Delco sports community, mostly for coaching wrestling at Ridley for 53 seasons. A wrestler of little distinction at West Chester State Teachers College (now WCU), he began teaching at Ridley in 1959, when he also started the wrestling program.

Schnell amassed more wins than any wrestling coach in Pennsylvania history. His record of 746-217-7 surpassed the PIAA mark of 513 set by Cedar Cliff’s Bob Craig in 2000. Schnell’s win total ranks fourth nationally.

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He taught health and physical education at the high school for 37 years, retiring in 1996. At Ridley, he was also an assistant football coach for 34 seasons. He also coached soccer and track and field at various times, and was a swimming coach and instructor in the summers.

Schnell was inducted into the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Delaware County Athletes Hall of Fame four years later.

Read more about Carl Schnellenbach from Delaware County News Network here.

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