Phil Dorn recalled when he served an internship several years ago under Lorry Bradley, wife of Catasauqua head baseball coach Steve Bradley.

It was then when he possibly worked with some of his new current Roughie football players in a youth program as he studied toward his teaching degree.

It was a matter of unknowingly dealing with his future.

"I was very grateful toward the Bradleys for their help," noted Dorn. "I know that Zack (Bradley) was there. Honestly, I can't recall any other players, but I'm sure the memories will come back to me."

Now, several years later after a stay as an assistant and head coach in the Pocono Mountain East program, Dorn ironically is once again working with youth in Catasauqua.

This time around, he will be taking over the reins of the Catasauqua football program.

Dorn was recently named the head coach, replacing Tom Falzone who left to accept the Nazareth head coaching position.

"The timing was right for me to take this job," said Dorn, who was the head coach at the Pocono school since 2006 and inside the program since 2000. "My wife and I were looking for a good town and school district to raise our two daughters."

Dorn already has a good feel for the program as his wife, Jill (Wilson), is a 1997 Roughie graduate. He watched numerous games and received enough information about the football team during visits to his in-laws' home in Catasauqua.

A Jersey City, NJ native, Dorn played football one year at Delaware Valley College and then graduated from Lehigh Valley College. He always entertained the thought about settling in the Lehigh Valley.

"We really thought about buying a house in Catty," said Dorn, who has daughters Brielle (3-years old) and Stephanie (5-months). "We liked the area and the school district. About the time we were looking around, I heard Tom (Falzone) was a finalist for the job at Nazareth.

"We both knew this was probably meant to be. So, I called (athletic director) Tom (Moll) and told him I was interested. We met a couple of times and I knew this would be the right move."

Dorn leaves a program that has appeared in the postseason in two of the last three seasons and has also produced five, 1,000-yard rushers.

He will enter the Roughies program that had a whirlwind, five-year run under Falzone in which they produced an overall 47-18 record during his time that included a pair of Colonial League crowns and a District 11 Class 2A title. The Roughies also advanced to the second round of the state playoffs this past season.

Catty lost a stable of seniors who shaped the program over the past four years, and most believe the Roughies will endure some new growing pains over the next couple of seasons.

However, Dorn isn't heading here to build a new foundation.

"I'm not coming here to rebuild," said Dorn, who already has met with his players. "I'm coming here to compete week-in and week-out. The players are very anxious to get to work, and I know they have a good work ethic. This program went to the state playoffs with 35 players last year.

"Catty players are always known as hard-nosed kids who work very hard. It is really not about the quantity of players, but the quality of them. I had twice as many players (at Pocono Mountain East).

"When I took over there, I had one returning starter back. But we eventually qualified for the playoffs. The JV and freshman programs are very solid. The program there is in very good shape."

Dorn stated the team will begin a six-to-eight week session of spring workouts starting May 27. It will give the players the opportunity to meet with their new position coaches.

He likes the positive vibes he's received from the incoming senior class. Dorn also plans to continue teaching in the Pocono Mountain School district, and doesn't have any short-term plans as the Roughies' mentor.

"I talked it over with my wife and we'll make it happen," said Dorn in reference to his commute. "Catty has a rich tradition here and I'm very proud to be a part of it.

"I'm not here for a short time, but instead for a commitment. We're very excited to be here and I will work 24-seven to do whatever I can for this program. I do plan on staying around for a while."

This time, his future will be more certain.