2023 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the new coaches
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Thursday, August 24, 2023 | 11:54 PM
Central Catholic head coach Ryan Lehmeier works with his team during practice on Monday, Aug. 27 2023, in Oakland.
Woodland Hills head coach Brian Tarrant watches his team practice on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, at the Wolvarena.
Bethel Park head coach Phil Peckich watches his team work out during practice on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, in Bethel Park.
North Catholic coach Chris Rizzo talks with his team during practice on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, in Cranberry.
Mt. Lebanon head coach Mike Collodi during 7on7 competition at Mt Lebanon High School.
TribLive HSSN broke down the top players at one position per day leading up to Week Zero. Now, here’s a look at the top coaching changes for the 2023 season.
1. Ryan Lehmeier
Lehmeier, a former offensive coordinator at Seneca Valley and Pine-Richland, is a first-time head coach. He was hired to replace Terry Totten, who went 188-40 in 18 seasons with six WPIAL titles and two state titles. Lehmeier takes the job with championship experience already on his resume, having won three WPIAL and two state titles as an assistant.
2. Mike Collodi
Collodi went 56-24 in eight seasons at Elizabeth Forward and reached the playoffs in each of the past six years. The Warriors finished as WPIAL Class 3A runners-up in 2020. He replaced Bob Palko, who resigned after four seasons with the Blue Devils, including a state championship win in 2021.
3. Brian Tarrant
Tarrant is a first-time head coach after spending time as an assistant at Penn Hills, Shaler, Northgate and Wilkinsburg. He spent last fall as a college assistant at Cal (Pa.). He replaces Tim Bostard, who went 30-35 in six seasons.
4. Phil Peckich
Peckich was promoted from offensive coordinator, earning him his first head coaching job. He worked five seasons as an assistant at his alma mater, Montour, and the past three on the Bethel Park staff of Brian DeLallo, who resigned.
5. Chris Rizzo
Rizzo, a Bethel Park native who coached in Arizona, returned to Western Pennsylvania to take the North Catholic job. He replaced Pat O’Shea, who resigned after going 53-14 in six seasons.
One to watch
Pat Feeley
Feeley, a longtime assistant for the Cougars, took over the program less than a month before the season opener when coach Zack Hayward resigned to become athletic director at Chartiers Valley.
• • • • •
Position breakdowns
QB | RB | WR | OL | TE | DL | LB | CB | S | K
Top five coaching changes for 2023
Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.
Tags: Bethel Park, Blackhawk, Central Catholic, Mt. lebanon, North Catholic, Woodland Hills
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