Getsy named head football coach at Charleroi

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, February 27, 2018 | 10:30 PM

The Charleroi football program has a new leader as of Tuesday night.

Franklin Regional assistant coach Lance Getsy was hired by a 7-0 vote by the Charleroi Area school board to take over for Donnie Militzer, who tendered his resignation Jan. 17.

Director Antonia Pellegrini abstained from the vote and director Heather Keranko was absent.

It will be Getsy's first head coaching job. He's been an assistant for 16 of the past 20 years.

“I'm very excited to get going,” Getsy said. “I'm the type of coach that wants to find the perfect fit and timing. For me, this was it. Charleroi really reminds me of when I played and grew up at Steel Valley; it's the same type of environment. Hard-working and hard-nosed kids with a strong work ethic. And I want the whole community to be involved in our program. When the job came open, I knew it was the right time for me.”

Getsy, 42, served as an assistant coach at Steel Valley during his senior season at Slippery Rock.

“I couldn't play due to an injury, so I would commute back to Steel Valley every day,” Getsy said. “It was a long drive, but when you're young that doesn't bother you. Plus, I got to coach my younger brother.”

Getsy, one of six children, coached his brother Luke, a former Pitt and Akron quarterback, who is currently the offensive coordinator at Mississippi State under his former coach Joe Moorhead.

He coached at his alma mater for four seasons before taking a year off after the birth of his daughters.

He coached at Norwin for five seasons, took another year off, and coached at Elizabeth Forward, where he's a special education teacher.

“I coached JaQuan Davidson and Rex Pearce at EF, then the head coach resigned and I coached with Tom Nola at Gateway in his final season in 2015. When he left, I was at Franklin Regional.”

During his time with the Panthers under coach Greg Botta, Getsy coached the offensive line and linebackers.

“I had my hands in a little bit of everything,” he said. “I was on both sides of the gameplan and making halftime adjustments.

“I've learned so much from the coaches I've played for and coached with, I can't wait to share what I know about the game with the players at Charleroi.”

Getsy said he looks forward to meeting his new team as soon as possible. He's expected to speak with athletic director Bill Wiltz on Wednesday to put plans in place.

“He was a fantastic interview,” Wiltz said. “He comes from a great football background. He has some coordinator experience. I think he is going to do a great job here.”

For Wiltz, a stronger emphasis on team discipline was his main focus.

“For me, discipline was a big thing,” Wiltz added. “We want a strong disciplinarian who will get the respect of the kids. I think the kids will respect him.

“He had a familiarity of the program. He did a lot of research on YouTube and Hudl. He's familiar with the pieces in place here.”

And Getsy is eager to get started, especially with a young offense returning a 2,500-yard passer (Geno Pellegrini), a 1,100-yard receiver (Dakota Romantino) and a 1,100-yard rusher (Hunter Perry).

“I wish I could go in tomorrow,” Getsy said.

Jeremy Sellew is a staff writer for the Mon Valley Independent.

Tags: Charleroi