After Ron Cohen announced his retirement, George Washington High School didn’t wait very long or go very far to find his replacement.
Bill “Skip” Singletary was named the seventh head football coach in Eagles history last week, stepping in for Cohen after the latter recently announced his retirement after 30 years, 261 wins and 12 Public League championships. Singletary, 64, had been an assistant under Cohen for the last 20 years — 12 as a varsity coordinator in various positions and eight as the school’s head junior varsity coach.
“It happened quick,” Singletary said in a phone interview. “I knew they had some interested outside candidates, so it was up in the air. I’ve been with Coach Cohen since 1994 and he’s been saying for awhile now that he’s been considering retirement, but it still caught us by surprise. It’s an honor and a privilege to be the seventh head football coach at George Washington.”
Singletary has been a football lifer since he graduated from Camden’s Woodrow Wilson High School in 1969. He went on to star at Temple, becoming an All-American as an offensive guard. His №64 jersey was the first the school ever retired, and Singletary was inducted into Temple’s Hall of Fame in 1984. He played professionally for the New York Giants and later the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League.
Singletary became a teacher once his playing days ended, expressing a desire to give back to kids the same way some of his own mentors did. He had done some volunteer work at Gratz and Dobbins before being appointed to a teaching position at Baldi Middle School. Washington’s principal at the time came to speak to Baldi eighth-graders, and the principal encouraged Singletary to speak to Cohen about getting involved in coaching. It was a match, and in 1996, Singletary came to Washington to teach health and physical education. He’s also the school’s head track and field coach, a job he will retain despite the football promotion.
“I’m certainly familiar with the program, and I took the JV head coaching position in preparation for possibly becoming the head coach one day,” Singletary said. “At least that’s what I had hoped. The Lord has certainly blessed me to be in this position.”
Singletary acknowledged the herculean task in front of him, and filling Cohen’s shoes won’t be easy following the incredible career he had. But he also said he wasn’t going to try to be the next Cohen; rather, he wants to leave his own imprint on an already successful program. Singletary also said he will stress the “student” portion of student-athlete.
“I’m glad I have months to prepare for the season, but my whole focus has always been on education,” he said. “When I was at Wilson, I had a teacher and coach by the name of Dennis Council who took me under his wing and taught me how it’s important to have something to fall back on when sports weren’t there anymore. My whole thing with these guys is making sure they’re prepared for whatever, and I’m very ‘pro-student.’ They will be prepared and respectful, because that’s how I was brought up. I want them to be winners on the field and in life to the point where we are developing them as educated, model citizens.”
The appointment is still fresh, and Singletary said he’s taking inventory and focusing on putting his first staff together.
“I am very excited about it, to the point where I’m not sure I can properly articulate it,” he said. “I’ve always been told that actions speak louder than words, and I have a monumental task ahead of me. I’m just taking it step-by-step, and at 64, I’d like to focus on being here for 8 to 10 years, keep it a quality program that it has been until we get someone younger to take it further.”
Singletary said he always listened to his elders as a young man, something that taught him respect and humility throughout his life. Now, he’s ready to pass that along to the student-athletes on the football field at Washington.
“My experience has prepared me for the role of being a positive role model,” he said. “I’ve always been under someone else’s wing and pushed to be the best that I can be. That’s what I find myself doing now, helping kids. That’s who I am. I like what I do … no, I love what I do.” ••
