After 30 years of coaching soccer at Salisbury High School, including both boys and girls, Mark Allinson is stepping away from the sport, he announced last month. He also retired as a health and physical education teacher at Salisbury in 2020.

“When I was first hired in Salisbury back in 1990, I explained to Mario Donnangelo (principal at HS) that I was looking for a teaching and coaching position that I would stay at for the lifetime of my career,” said Allinson. “I have been lucky and thankful to have had the stability of my positions through different administrations and school boards.

“Our student-athletes through the years have been talented, resilient, and extremely coachable. Our parent base has been very supportive. We have also had a coaching staff that has provided stability through the years and our teams have prospered because of this. Rene Rawhouser, Rick Babyak, Barry Frick and Victor Deoliveira have been the longest tenured coaches, though all hires have been integral in our success.

Allinson coached both the Falcon girls and boys teams when they played opposite seasons. When the PIAA moved girls soccer to the fall season in 2012, Allinson decided to stay with the boys team while longtime assistant Babyak took over the girls program and is still at the helm.

“Twenty years on the girls side and 30 on the boys is a long time to coach and teach in these days and I am grateful for the lasting relationships that have been formed,” said Allinson. “Our players have gone onto successful careers within numerous fields and that measures the true success of our program. Longevity has also brought heartache within our community as we have had several players pass on during my tenure. Each and every one of them has not been forgotten and will be forever a part of Falcon Pride.”

Under Allinson, the Falcons won three district championships and three Colonial League titles. He finishes with a boys soccer overall coaching record of 364-256-32. His overall girls record was 183-174-24. The Falcons won the league title in 1996.

Allinson coached all-state players Ben Hoffman, Jason Yeisley, Sean Baker and Ethan Heydt on the boys side. Yeisley was a Regional All-American player twice (2003 and 2004) and went on to play professionally. On the girls side, Allinson coached three all-state players in Christy Batchelor, Tabitha Penuel and Sara Hogan. Batchelor was a Regional All-American player in 1996.

When asked about some of his favorite memories in the 30-year tenure, while there were many, Allinson was quick to point out his team’s successes and one individual’s career success.

“My favorite moments include three district championships on the boys side, all in overtime,” Allinson said. “Also, Jason Yeisley being drafted in the third round of the MLS draft on ESPN.”