Cheltenham High School has opted not to renew the contract for former head football coach Troy Gore, according to a memo released by the district in April.
“While I’m not able to discuss the specifics of this personnel matter due to confidentiality, I want to acknowledge that this was not an easy decision,” principal Dr. Benjamin Hammond wrote. “However, it was one I felt was necessary to support the long-term direction and success of our football program.”
Coach Gore, hired in 2021, went 19-24 in four seasons, according to Maxpreps.com. He was named one of six coaches for the Eastern team in the East/West All-Star game in May 2024 and was also selected to serve as a director on the board of the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association.
Samuel Sheridan, Director of Athletics & Activities, confirmed with Glenside Local that Terence Tolbert, a 1989 alum of Abington Senior High School and a current business teacher at Cheltenham High, has taken over the program.
Tolbert was hired as Abington’s head coach in January 2023 and went 1-9 his first season. In June 2024, the district announced that he had either been let go or has decided to step down.
Darian “DJ” McFadden, a 2012 graduate of Abington Senior High School, is listed as the team’s assistant coach on Maxpreps.com. He was Coach Gore’s offensive coordinator (and opened his own skating rink in Plymouth Meeting in January).
Tolbert will be the Panthers’ 11th head coach since they started playing football at the Wyncote location in 1959. Here are his predecessors, courtesy of local historian Chuck Langerman:
1. Dave Harr: 1959-1960
2. John Kracsun: 1961-1965
3. Harry Holihan: 1966-1970
4. Stan Freedman: 1971-1974 and 1983
5. Ted Weinstein: 1975-1982
6. Gary Landau: 1984-1986
7. John Barr: 1987
8. Joe Gro: 1988-2016
9. Ryan Nase: 2017-2020
10. Troy Gore: 2021-2024
11. Terence Tolbert: 2025-?
Glenside Local reached out to Coach Gore in March after “Head Football Coach” appeared in the district’s job openings. He responded: “This is a process of the CEA contract. The position must be posted each year and I must reapply. I am the head football coach of Cheltenham High School.”
Coach Gore’s X.com page says “Asst Coach Imhotep” and his Facebook page says “Asst Football Coach at Imhotep Institute Charter High School”. We reached out him for comment and will update this article if/when he responds.
The district’s memo from April is below:
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