George Curry was enjoying life away from coaching.

He finally had a chance to take extended vacations with his wife, Jackie. He had more time to spend with his six grandchildren. And his high school football fix was eased by his work as a radio and television analyst.

Then, unexpectedly, the opportunity to return to Berwick, where he spent 35 seasons and guided the Dawgs to six PIAA Class AAA state championships, presented itself.

In mid-June, Gary Campbell, who had replaced Curry at the Northeastern Pennsylvania school, announced that he was stepping down and taking a position in his home state of Massachusetts.

"The other coaches wanted me to take it, the school board wanted me to take it, and the players wanted me to take it," Curry said. "It was a whirlwind, to be honest with you. I was totally retired."

Life as a retiree was nice, but not good enough to keep Curry away from his beloved Dawgs. He took the job on June 17, ending a three-year sabbatical.

"I told my wife I'd see her at Christmas," the 68-year-old joked. "That's just the way it is."

This is Curry's second return to the sideline. When the coaching bug hit him almost immediately after he stepped down at Berwick in 2005, he coached for three years at nearby Wyoming Valley West.

So far, his second stint with the Dawgs has been a major success. The squad has won its first three games by a combined 139-35. It routed visiting Dallas, 50-14, Friday night.

"Once I got in it, it was like I never left," said Curry, a part-time driver's education instructor. "I love it. I love what I'm doing."

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A coaching legend returns