Jake Minnich is in his third season as a volunteer assistant coach with the Shippensburg University football team. His coaching focus is with the offensive line.
In two seasons, Minnich has helped instruct three All-PSAC Second Team linemen: Oscar Ghasab (right tackle) in 2016 and Schuyler Harting (left tackle) and Hayden Rigo (right guard) in 2015. The 2015 selections mark the first time SU has had multiple offensive linemen on the all-conference team since 2008. The Red Raiders ranked third in the PSAC in rushing in 2015, (233.3 yards per game) and 2016 (206.2 yards per game).
A nominee for the Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame, Minnich has had a 15-year career as either a coach or a player with regional football teams both outdoors and indoors.
His semi-pro coaching experience began in 2002, when he became the offensive coordinator for the Cumberland Valley Cardinals. He served in that role for two seasons before working as the offensive line coach for the Central Penn Piranha in 2004. The Piranha went 16-1 that year and lost in the national championship game.
In 2007, Minnich became the head coach of the Chambersburg Cardinals, serving for three seasons. His record was 20-14 with Chambersburg. He went back to the Central Penn Piranha in 2010, serving as offensive coordinator. The Piranha went 11-1 that year, with the only loss coming at the hands of the Cardinals.
Minnich returned to Chambersburg for the 2011 season, serving as the offensive coordinator for two years. The Cardinals went 13-0 and won the 2011 Gridiron Development Football League (GDFL) National Championship, with fellow SU assistant coach Josh Finafrock among the players on the team. Chambersburg’s team folded in 2012.
Other coaching work for Minnich includes time with indoor teams. He was an offensive assistant coach for the Harrisburg Stampede and also worked with the York Capitals. Both teams won AIFA Championships.
Minnich attended Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School and played three years of varsity football, graduating in 1973. He played semi-professional football for the Cumberland Colts and the Chambersburg Cardinals from 1974–77.
Minnich’s football coaching career began at the high school level, where he garnered significant experience. He coached youth football for Northern York School District in 1979 before serving as the assistant freshman coach for Mechanicsburg Area School District from 1980-81. From 1982-89, Minnich was Mechanicsburg’s head freshman coach.
In 1990, Minnich was promoted to the assistant varsity and head junior varsity coach for Mechanicsburg, serving in that capacity until 2001. He shifted in 2002 to Bishop McDevitt High School, where he coached for 11 years as an assistant. The team won numerous district titles and three times finished as a state runner-up. Among the prominent players Minnich coached at McDevitt is LeSean McCoy, former Philadelphia Eagle and current Buffalo Bill.
From 2013-14, Minnich was the offensive coordinator for Central Dauphin East High School. The Panthers went 17-8 and made the state playoffs for the first two times in its history.
Minnich and his wife Kim live in Mechanicsburg. The couple has a son, Jason, daughter-in-law Shannon, and two grandchildren: Tanner and Laurel.
Coach Jake Minnich -- July 2015
