Jack Muldoon, a 1975 graduate of Monsignor Bonner Catholic High School in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, has been named the first Philadelphia Eagles High School Coach of the Week for the 2025 season. Last year, Muldoon led Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School—known as Bonner & Prendie—to its first PIAA Class 4A State Championship. The Friars are off to a 3-0 start this season.
“It’s amazing. This is huge. We’ve gotten some Coach of the Year honors, and I always say we because my staff, I ride on their shoulders. But it really is,” said Muldoon. “I think it gives us a kind of a stamp of approval from people who really know football and people who know what youth sports are all about.
“I’ve gotten to go to a bunch of coaching clinics through the years. With the Eagles, I have gotten to go to camps and get to know the different guys who have worked in that capacity of youth sports. And being a lifelong Eagles fan, it’s just a huge honor for me and for our team.”
Muldoon’s coaching career began soon after high school graduation when he started coaching rugby at his alma mater for ten years while also working with CYO basketball teams. He later coached at St. Joe’s Prep from 2001 to 2011 before returning to Bonner in 2012.
“I started to really understand that I liked coaching, I enjoyed that whole relationship between the coach and the players,” said Muldoon. “Even when I was younger, a lot of the guys I coached were around my age.
“And then I was coaching some CYO football. Later on, I coached at St. Joe’s Prep from 2001 to 2011. I then came back here to Bonner in 2012, and have been a coach here since.”
He became head coach of Bonner & Prendie’s varsity football team in 2016 and has guided them through four consecutive District 12 Championships and secured both the Philadelphia Catholic League title in 2022 and last year’s state championship.
Muldoon credits his approach partly to watching Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni: “We have a great role model in Nick Sirianni. I’ve kind of grabbed a couple of his sayings and have watched some of the ways his Eagles team approaches it,” he said. “And the way I basically approach it is, each season, each team writes its own story. It’s kind of like their own yearbook.
“If we were defending it, I’d want the 12 seniors, who are all playing college football, to come back. We’ll defend it with the guys from last year. I want our guys (on this year’s team) to feel that this is their own story to write. We are booked as a defending state champion, but until we even get into the state tournament, none of that really matters. All the points we scored, all the touchdowns, that graduated.”
In addition to his work on field performance, Muldoon emphasizes academics and personal growth among his players: “We’re really big here at school on service opportunities, and we challenge them,” he said. “The opportunities they’re going to get to move on and possibly play at the collegiate level – currently, we have 32 players that are playing at all different levels – their GPA, how they act in school, how they carry themselves is vitally important to how they’re going to succeed outside of here.
“We want to have them enjoy their football experience, but at the end of the day we’re trying to make men.”
Muldoon’s dedication extends beyond athletics; he also serves as Director of Alumni Relations at Bonner & Prendie: “They really mean everything to me… Some of them [former players], I had Eagles season tickets with for years… And these players that I coach now…I probably talk to your kids more than I talk to my own… If you don’t show that you love these kids…then you’re really kind of not doing it for the right reason.”
His commitment has fostered strong relationships within both current teams and alumni: “Of all the guys that I’ve coached,…I have a couple back on my staff,…Some of things our school teaches them as far as responsibility…they understand,…these are all worthwhile characteristics…”
Reflecting on over five decades connected with Bonner & Prendie—as student-athlete then coach—Muldoon added: “My whole family came here…What this school represents in this community is vital in helping educate kids who want a faith-based education,…and be part of something…
“It means a lot…to feel that we made a difference…I always say when they come in,…walk out with green cap and gown.”
Pat Devenney, Director of Athletics at Bonner & Prendie highlighted Muldoon’s influence: “Jack is mentor directly…,but his grasp on reaching people goes far beyond our building…,he has developed many young men…,Outside field Jack takes strong interest…,make sure they become best version…”
Muldoon’s recognition by the Philadelphia Eagles’ High School Coach program reflects an ongoing partnership between local schools and professional organizations supporting youth development through athletics.
