Ryan gives Todt 600th win

There was no celebration on George J. Todt Field because the man who the field is named after would never allow such a thing. It took 40 years to name the field after the Archbishop Ryan boys' soccer coach - the only coach the program has ever known. And after his team nearly blew a three-goal lead last night, he wasn't exactly in the mood for celebrating anyway.

"Of course, it's aging me by the minute," Todt said.

But in this, his 41st year, Todt achieved a milestone only nine others in the entire country before him have reached: 600 wins. Archbishop Ryan defeated George Washington, 3-2, last night.

Todt, who long ago conquered the Pennsylvania state record of 513 victories, became the first coach in the state to win 600 boys' soccer games. He falls into a tie for ninth place in all-time victories by a boys' coach, according to records kept by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

But Todt never formally told his players about it. Even after the victory, as he gathered his team for the postgame huddle, he did not mention the record. There was no Gatorade bath like the one that followed win No. 500.

"I understand it's a milestone and very few people have achieved it," Todt said. "I'm very appreciative of all those things. We've had a great history here. I want it to be about the players."

His son, Ryan Todt, now an assistant coach for his father, said the players knew all about No. 600, even if the head man kept it quiet. Former players who still follow Todt's career have recently reached out to the current Archbishop Ryan players to tell him how special a game it was, Ryan Todt said.

He didn't need any convincing. Ryan Todt was on the field - as a player - for win No. 400. This was the first milestone victory that father and son shared as coaches. He couldn't stress to the players how special this was.

"I got to sign the ball for the rest of the team for the 400th win he keeps in his trophy case," Ryan Todt said. "I told these kids that they're part of Ryan soccer history, signing the 600-win ball."

George Todt, 61, has been the coach of the boys' soccer team since its inception in 1969, so he was quick to point out this was not only a milestone for him but also the school. He became athletic director in 1977, which as he likes to joke, means he has been his own boss for 32 years.

This year, he is coaching three players who are sons of former players. That's a sign of the strong lineage that Todt has developed at Ryan - and the longevity he has sustained.

"If I ever coach a grandchild, I know I've been here way too long," he said.

After Dan Panepresso scored his second goal of the game in the 57th minute to give the 2-0 Raiders a 3-0 lead, it looked as if Todt's 600th win would be a rout. But Washington (0-1) responded with two quick tallies in the 69th and 70th minutes.

"We had the game under control and then we gave up a soft goal, which just turned the momentum," Todt said. "It got a little hairy there at the end."

Goalkeeper Nick Ferry allowed that soft goal but stopped Washington's final chances to secure victory No. 600.

When Todt walked off his field, his family and two of his five grandkids were there to greet him. His son, Ryan, became a father for the first time Friday, and what is better than another grandkid and a milestone within the span of five days?

Todt said he had no plans to stop anytime soon. He remains the intense sideline general, at one point last night scolding a referee by asking if he was waiting for a broken leg to call a yellow card.

Ryan Todt wasn't surprised with the lack of celebration. Dad has never been one to toot his own horn, he said. But his son is speechless when he considers the legacy of George Todt.

"I've seen a lot of accomplishments in his life," Ryan Todt said. "I just can't believe how they just keep going on and on and on. It's mind-boggling."

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