HS FOOTBALL: Stage named head coach at Montrose

Montrose is ready to get back into the Lackawanna Football Conference, and the administration is turning to a longtime coach who has a track record of success.

Brett Stage, who served as an assistant coach at Lackawanna Trail and Scranton Prep, was appointed at a school board meeting Monday night, according to Montrose principal Terrence Whalen. Stage replaces George Petrak, who coached for two seasons, including last fall when the Meteors had a record of 3-7 playing an independent schedule.

“We have quite a few athletes in the school,” Stage, 29, said. “It is nice that they have the co–op with Elk Lake, and we can pull some athletes from there. I am excited to get working with the kids and teach them a winning mentality. I am going to share the things that I learned from Lackawanna Trail and Scranton Prep from some really good coaches and build the program back up to what it used to be back in the day.”

Stage is the Meteors’ 10th head coach since Tom Lucenti resigned following the 2005 season. Lucenti won 110 games in his 19 season, but the program has battled shrinking roster sizes is 21-131 since 2008.

“We are excited about Brett’s appointment to this position,” Whalen said. “He comes to us from a great football family and coaching background from being an assistant at two premier programs in the area while learning under Coach (Steve) Jervis and Coach (Terry) Gallagher. We look forward to him and his staff’s positive impact on the Montrose football program.”

Stage is a graduate and former receiver at Tunkhannock High School. He spent a season at Lackawanna Trail as an assistant coach when the program reached the PIAA Class 1A championship game in 2018. He joined the Scranton Prep staff in 2019.

Montrose will return as a full-time member of the LFC for the next two-year cycle. The Meteors’ first game is a nonleague contest at home against Nativity BVM on Aug. 28. Then, Montrose plays an LFC Division III game against Susquehanna the following weekend.

Last season, the Meteors earned wins over rival Susquehanna, Holy Redeemer and Renaissance Academy Charter.

“Getting numbers out will be the biggest challenge,” Stage said. “I know there are a lot of players in the pee wee program and kids in the hallways that we can encourage to come out. We are playing as a Class 3A team with a small roster. Getting kids from Elk Lake will be a key. If we can tap into that resource, we can build the program.

“I am ready to get the kids going and working with them, watching film. We are going to jump right into installing the offense and defense and getting the kids up to speed in the spring.”

Stage’s appointment leaves Scranton and Western Wayne as the only LFC programs still searching for head coaches.

Scranton must replace Steve Shumbres, who resigned after the season with a career record of 33-50 in eight seasons.

Shane Grodack resigned in late December after three seasons and a 20-14 record.