Philip J. Klaus

• Post by: mcalibrary
• January 11, 2024
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INDUCTEE

Known for his rugged and physical type of play, Phil Klaus finally adds his name as an inductee in the Ed Romance Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Phil joins 8 other classmates form the class of ’71 and 13 other team mates from the 1970 Southern Division Championship team. Phil started for 3 years as a defensive end and tight end for Coach Jazz Diminick. He was a main part of MCA’s “Golden Era” that saw MCA go 34-2 over a three year period and never lose a regular season game. They would win 3 Southern Division Crowns and one Eastern Conference Championship. For his efforts, Klaus was named to the all state 2nd team as a defensive end and to the 3rd team as a tight end. He would also become the starting defensive end in the 1971 Big 33 game at Hershey Park.

Phil would receive a full scholarship to UCLA and would become the starting guard and long snapper for the freshman team in 1971 and would letter as an offensive guard/long snapper in 1972. He then transferred to Humbolt State University, where he started at defensive tackle and would earn Honorable Mention to the All West Coast Division II All Star team.

Klaus would also letter two times in basketball and 4 times in track while at MCA. As a track athlete, he is a true rarity in that he owns District IV Championships in the shot put, discus, and javelin. He is also a part of only a handful of athletes to throw over 50 feet in the shot and 150 feet in the discus. Phil had bests of 52’1.5″ in the shot, 150’0″ in the discus, and 192’10” in the javelin. His MCA team would win 4 consecutive District IV Championships. At Humbolt State, Phil would garner Far West Conference Honors as a Javelin thrower, heaving the spear over 198 feet. .

Klaus would begin his professional career as a coach at Mount Carmel Area and Bloomsburg High Schools before moving on to State College High School. Phil would coach football, basketball, and track and field for various periods from 1979 to 1999.His throwers and pole vaulters were always in the midst of District Championships.

Philip has taught Technology Education at State College since 19983. He has added duties as a drafting instructor for the South Hills School of Business and Technology, as well as, Penn State University Career Development.

Phil and his wife, Donna, are the proud parents of daughter, Stephanie and son, Jeffrey.