Hoffer steps down after 4 seasons as Yough football coach

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Friday, March 27, 2026 | 8:01 PM

Some coaches put more into a football program than they get out of it.

Numerous attempts at a rebuild end up becoming a skipping record.

Even with the best intentions in place, moving a mountain — in this case, Cougar Mountain — is a lot harder than it looks.

That is, at least in part, why Yough’s Ben Hoffer made the trying decision to step down as head football coach after four seasons. He told his players Friday at a special meeting at the high school.

“I felt like it was time,” Hoffer said. “It’s tough to leave home. I feel for the kids. I just thought it was the best scenario for myself and them.”

Hoffer, 35, said the decision was not made flippantly and grew out of several reasons. At the heart of it, though: His goal of turning around a struggling program close to his heart didn’t materialize.

“I am not someone who is used to failing,” Hoffer said. “I am going to miss the kids. We have some great kids.”

Yough was 10-30 under Hoffer, who took over in 2022. He is the school’s second all-time leading rusher behind Dustin Shoaf, the head coach at Southmoreland.

The Cougars were 4-20 in conference games the last four years and have given up 282 or more points each season (31 points per game).

Yough has not made the WPIAL playoffs since 2013.

“I am going to stay on a little while until they find someone else,” Hoffer said. “There are some kids coming up. Our middle school team just had its first winning season in a long time.”

The new WPIAL alignment, in place for the next two seasons, didn’t exactly encourage Hoffer to stay.

Yough is a Westmoreland County outlier, pinned in a map-scattered conference with Avonworth, Propel Braddock Hills, Shady Side Academy, South Park and West Mifflin.

“I am worried about the kids’ safety,” Hoffer said. “It doesn’t make a lot of sense. You’re pulling us away from the other Westmoreland teams.”

Hoffer is no longer serving as an assistant baseball or girls basketball coach at his alma mater. He did not rule out a return to the sidelines this fall with another program.

“My mom always said, leave a place better than when you found it,” Hoffer said. “I’ll land on my feet somewhere.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Yough