Remember George B. Maloof

George B. Maloof, legendary football coach and player, has died at the age of 79. Maloof was the head football coach at St. Pius X Catholic High School for 26 years, as well as a star football player at Georgia Tech and the Marist School. Awarded the Papal Medal, Benemerenti, for his achievement in education, he was the first lay member of the faculty at St. Pius X when the school opened in 1958, and the stadium now bears his name.

Current Principal Steve Spellman commented on the many contributions made by Maloof, "The success and reputation that St. Pius X enjoys today is deeply rooted in the contributions made by George Maloof during his time here. The number of lives he touched then, and continues to touch now is astounding. His motto of urging each and every person to be the best they can be with the gifts God has given them, not only carried him to long list of life-time accomplishments, but continues to take this institution to new levels of excellence in all phases of operation."

Maloof was best known as the football coach at St. Pius X from 1958-83, where he also served as a math and mechanical drawing teacher, athletic director, assistant to the principal, and head of boys' discipline. His teams combined for a 168-85-12 record in his tenure as head coach, and St. Pius X became the first Catholic school to win the State Championship in 1968 under his watch. Twice named Georgia Class AA Coach of the Year, Maloof was also honored by the Atlanta Touchdown Club as the inaugural Legends of the Game in 2003.

Maloof was much more than just a coach and teacher at St. Pius according to current Athletic Director, Mark Kelly,
"Coach Maloof's record is incredible and speaks for itself. The most remarkable thing to me, however, is the effect that he had on every young man that ever played for him. There is not one of us who does not think of him often. We often ask ourselves 'What would Coach Maloof do?' And there is not one of us who does not hear his voice saying "Be the best you can be, with the ability that God gave you' That is what he did. His greatest teaching tool was, his Life."

Born January 4, 1930 at the old Piedmont Hospital, now a parking lot, and former location of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, George Bernard Maloof met success at every step along his fabled career at Marist School, Georgia Tech, and the U.S. Air Force in addition to his time at St. Pius X. Raised in the Grant Park area of Atlanta, Maloof attended Immaculate Conception Elementary School before matriculating to Marist School, then an all-boys' military school located on Ivy Street downtown.

In his time at Marist, Maloof served as Class President for the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior classes. He also served as military editor and sports editor of The Blue and Gold, Marist's weekly newspaper. Maloof attained the rank of colonel, which was the highest ranking officer in the Cadet Corps, and was twice named the Corps' outstanding cadet.

During his storied prep career, Maloof lettered four years in football, during which he was named to All-State, All-Southern and All-American teams. He lettered four seasons in baseball being named to the All-Greater Atlanta and All-State teams, as well as earning two letters in basketball. Maloof was also the Most Outstanding Player of the North team in the Georgia High School All-Star Football game, while being named the Most Outstanding Lineman in Georgia by the Atlanta Touchdown Club.

From Marist, Maloof continued his stellar playing career at Georgia Tech as a three-year football and baseball letter winner. In his years at the North Avenue institution, Maloof was named to the All-SEC Football and Baseball teams while helping the gridiron Jackets to an undefeated season in 1951. That season was highlighted by a 48-6 trouncing of arch-rival, Georgia, when Maloof rushed for 4 touchdowns, a record that still stands almost sixty years later.

After graduating from Tech in 1952, Maloof was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U. S. Air Force. During his time in the service, he was picked to play on the Fort Bragg All-Star football team, and was chosen the most valuable player in the 9th Air Force. He also served as the Head Coach of the Pope Air Force baseball team in 1953-54.

Upon his return to Atlanta, he joined the football coaching staff at his prep alma mater, Marist. Two years later he was named head coach at the new St. Pius X Catholic High School. In addition to his football coaching duties, Maloof also served as basketball and baseball coach for eight years.

During the decade of the 1960s, St. Pius X became a football juggernaut, posting an 82-18-7 record. Maloof's teams were noted for their defense as the Golden Lions recorded 43 shutouts, and allowed less than 6 points per game. In addition to the AA State Championship in 1968, the 1965 team finished as AA State Runners-Up. Maloof was selected to coach the 1968 North Team in the Georgia High School All-Star Football Game, and earned his two Georgia Coach of the Year accolades during the decade.

Current St. Pius X head coach Paul Standard talked about the legacy that Maloof helped to create, "Coach Maloof was an inspiration for the entire St. Pius X Community-he is 'St. Pius X'. Our school is what it is today because of the vision, dedication, and love that Coach Maloof had for St. Pius X. He will always be the St. Pius football coach. I am just the caretaker of this job, as will be the person that comes after me."

Overall, in his 26 years, Maloof won 79 of his 168 games with shutouts, and has produced six head football coaches from among his former players; including sons, Kevin and Keith, current St. Pius X head coach, Paul Standard, as well as Bob Mangan, Ed Dudley and John Alexander. The field at St. Pius X was named in his honor in 1995, and the stadium re-named George B. Maloof Stadium in 2004. He was inducted into the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in June of 2009.

In addition to his coaching, Maloof was an outstanding educator as evidenced by being awarded the Papal Medal, Benemerenti (well-merited) by Pope John Paul II in 1982. It is one of the highest honors conferred by the Catholic Church. The medal was awarded for his achievement in education, and he was named Man of the Year by the Archdiocese of Atlanta in 1983.

David Buechner spoke of the many roles that Maloof throughout his life, "Coach Maloof played many roles in his life, and played all of them extraordinarily well. To me he was a friend and a father figure. Coach Maloof was a huge character, a man carved out of a giant mountain that will endure in the memories of thousands of us that he touched. He was, and will always be, larger than life. His memory will live in those who he touched forever."

Maloof is survived by his wife of 32 years, Anita; son, Kevin and daughter-in-law, Debbie; son, Keith and daughter-in-law, Lisa; daughter, Karen Rackley and her husband, Labron and daughter, Kathy Kieffer and her husband, Brooks and a daughter-in-law, Marcee. His brother, Wiley, survives him; and he is also survived by 13 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and his mother-in-law, Louise Sawyer. He was preceded in death by his first wife and two sons.