Just a month before he was set to begin his 16th season as Allderdice’s football coach, Jerry Haslett died Wednesday at the age of 59.
In 15 years at the helm, Haslett helped transform the Dragons from City League cellar-dwellers to perennial title contenders, taking his team on nine trips to the championship game while hoisting a trio of City League titles. His tough, no-nonsense demeanor coupled with a dry sense of humor and an innate ability to connect with his players made Haslett one of the city’s most respected coaches — and one of its most beloved figures.
In a statement released Thursday morning, Pittsburgh Public Schools mourned the loss of Haslett, described as “a stalwart presence” who was “known for his hard work, quick wit and heart of gold.”
After starting his tenure with Pittsburgh Public Schools as a teacher at Perry in 2001, Haslett became an assistant coach at Oliver before moving on to Allderdice in 2007. Along with his role as a coach and business teacher, Haslett also served as the school’s activities and athletic director, always going the extra mile to ensure the best possible experience for his students.
Before Haslett arrived, the Dragons’ football program was nothing more than an afterthought at best and a laughingstock at worst. After going winless in 2008, Allderdice finished 1-8 in his debut season in 2009.
Still, it didn’t take long for Haslett to engineer a remarkable turnaround.
He first steered the Dragons to the City League title game in 2011, then took them on three more trips to the finals from 2013-15, but Allderdice had to endure several heartbreaking defeats before finally ending a 50-year championship drought with a 35-7 win over Brashear in the 2017 title game. The Dragons then repeated as champs in 2018 before capturing a third City League crown in 2021 with a massive upset win against Westinghouse, which has since gone on to reach back-to-back PIAA championship games in 2022-23.
A 1982 Northgate graduate, Haslett put together a tremendous career as a four-year starter at Clarion, tallying 329 career tackles with 11 interceptions and 30 pass breakups while also returning punts and holding for field goals and extra points. As a senior, the Associated Press named him a second team “Little All-American” for small-school athletes, and he was enshrined in the school’s hall of fame in 2006.
Haslett’s brother Jim was a longtime coach in the NFL who served as defensive coordinator for the Steelers from 1997-99 and head coach of the New Orleans Saints from 2000-05. Another brother, Jon, was also inducted into the Clarion Hall of Fame in 2009.
Haslett compiled a record of 63-85 in 15 seasons at Allderdice, with a record of 47-31 in City League play.
Steve is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at srotstein@unionprogress.com.
