McGloin to resign Monday as Lackawanna County commissioner to take college football coaching job

After only 13 months on the job, Lackawanna County Commissioner Matt McGloin announced Friday he will resign Monday, kicking off a search for his replacement.

Unavailable for questions since rumors he would leave began Sunday, McGloin, 35, of Waverly, announced his resignation in a county-issued statement.

The statement did not say where McGloin will coach, but numerous sources said he is leaving for a football-related job at Boston College, whose head coach, Bill O’Brien, was McGloin’s last head coach when he played quarterback at Penn State University.

McGloin notified the county of his planned resignation in a letter to county chief of staff Brian Jeffers.

“This was not an easy decision to make,” he said in the letter. “But I have to do what’s best for my family and explore other options outside of county government. Lackawanna County always will be my home, and I will bring a part of home with me wherever this journey may take me.”

Dems must submit replacement list

The county Democratic Party executive committee will have five days from Monday to develop and submit a list of three potential replacements. The party must submit the list to the judges of the county court of common pleas, according to the county home rule charter.

The judges, sitting as a group, must pick one from the list, according to the charter.

The charter also says “a special election according to the Laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall be held at the next primary municipal or general election to permanently fill the vacancy.” A municipal primary is scheduled for May 20, but a county official said no special election for commissioner will take place then.

County solicitor Don Frederickson said the state code governing counties requires a commissioner replacement serve until a term ends. McGloin’s term expires Jan. 3, 2028. The next commissioner election is Nov. 2, 2027.

County Democratic Party chairman Chris Patrick said the executive committee will meet Thursday at a time and location he hasn’t determined. Patrick invited potential replacements to apply at lackawannacountydc@gmail.com.