Harry Armstrong, who built a reputation as a creative play designer and coordinated some of the most explosive offenses in Lackawanna Football Conference history, is not re-applying for his position as the head football coach at Riverside.
Armstrong, 45, guided the program to success during two stints, most recently leading the Vikings to the District 2 Class 2A championship and the PIAA Class 2A semifinals in 2024. He met with the team on Tuesday afternoon.
“Today (Tuesday) was filled with a great deal of pride and sadness,” Armstrong said. “I explained to the players that this is the next chapter. It is a situation for me, when I returned for my second stint, that, in the big picture, I wasn’t going to coach 20-30 years.”
In 2025, Riverside finished the season 8-3 overall. The Vikings were the runner-up in the LFC Division III and qualified for the District 2 Class 2A semifinals. Armstrong served as the head coach for 13 seasons and had a record of 98-60. He was The Times-Tribune Coach of the Year in 2007 and in 2024.
During his first stay with the program, Armstrong led the team to District 2 Class 1A championships in 2008 and 2010. Riverside reached the PIAA Class 1A final in 2010 and lost to Clairton, 37-31.
A former standout player with the Vikings, Armstrong threw for 4,253 yards and 66 touchdowns. He led Riverside to the PIAA Class 1A final in 1997.
In his coaching career, he developed talented, record-setting athletes who thrived in his innovative offense. With his guidance and tutelage, Johnny Gilchrist became the all-time career passing yards leader with 7,481 yards. Wide receiver Reese Gaughan set LIAA records for receptions with 230 and yards with 3,169. Tight end Richie Kostoff set records for his position with 136 receptions for 1,725 yards.
Most recently, Armstrong coached two-time Hookey Reap Award winner Tavian Branch, who is an early enrollee at Auburn University. Junior Brayden Rose, who was an All-Region defensive back last season, received NCAA Division I scholarship offers from Syracuse, Lehigh and Old Dominion.
“I have been extremely lucky to coach some great kids at Riverside,” Armstrong said. “After the meeting with the players, I made sure they knew that I was going to help with the transition to the new coach and maintain an involvement in the recruiting process, which is getting extremely challenging for these kids.
“I am very proud of the players who helped to build this program back to where it is today, after great success the last couple of seasons. I have had the pleasure of working with exceptional athletes and great teams.”
Armstrong’s announcement leaves three LFC schools searching for head coaches. Scranton’s Steve Shumbres and Western Wayne’s Shane Grodack resigned in recent months.
Montrose recently appointed Brett Stage to replace George Madrak.