WEST CHESTER, PA – One of West Chester's most recognizable and one of its greatest ambassadors to the university and its football program announced his retirement this week. Assistant Coach
Gerald Toney is stepping down from coaching the Golden Rams after 34 years on the sidelines. He will officially retire next month on March 20.
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Gerald Toney is West Chester Football," head coach,
Duke Greco said. "A beloved colleague and friend, I have had the privilege of working side by side with him over the last two seasons. His energy, infectious personality, and genuine love for the game, have been staples of his coaching style and why his friends, colleagues, and players truly love him."
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Gerald Toney's contributions, not only to our football program but to WCU as a whole, are countless," West Chester University athletics director,
Terry Beattie added. "The number of lives he has impacted cannot be measured. Known for his positive energy and care he showed for everyone he coached, Gerald leaves a legacy defined by mentorship, character and community. As he enters retirement, we celebrate not just his remarkable career, but the enduring influence he has had on West Chester University and all who had the privilege of working with him."
A former captain of the Golden Rams during his playing days as an underclassman, and a member of the Killinger Foundation Football Hall of Fame, Toney has served his alma mater primarily as a defensive backs coach, special teams coordinator and assistant head coach.
"The best part of this job was dealing with young people every day," Toney said. "Making an impact on a young man's life, not just in football, but in life, is what I strived to do. Establishing meaningful relationships that help cross athletic and social barriers within this university has been truly amazing. Now, I think it is time to begin a new chapter of my life."
A 1992 graduate of West Chester University and a four-year letterwinner on the gridiron, Toney returned to WCU as a graduate assistant and spent the next three-plus decades shaping Golden Rams football. Toney became synonymous with WCU's sideline leadership and player development.
