Coach Szlanda had a tremendous impact on the lives of the many young men he coached. During his twelve years as the Ram’s coach, his teams displayed a hard-nosed, never-give-up approach to the game. Defense and discipline were trademarks of Szlanda-coached teams. His athletes loved playing for him, and they were always well prepared to battle against stronger competition. Coaches strive for wins, but integrity, caring for his players, and love of the game are what drove Coach Szlanda to prevail in the coaching profession. Ray will be remembered pacing the sidelines of the Buffalo Corral, negotiating a call with the officials, and always showing class when the buzzer sounded at the end of the game.
