New coaches, who share connections, set to lead prolific Westmoreland County programs

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Sunday, August 20, 2023 | 9:01 AM

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When Mike Brown was coming out of Penn-Trafford, a Division II college program took a particular liking to his skills as a defensive back.

The school was Mercyhurst, and Brown went on to play four years in Erie for the Lakers. The man who recruited him was assistant coach JT Thompson.

“I remember a Joe Metro Index Camp when we met,” Brown said. “I didn’t know anything about Mercyhurst. I didn’t even know where it was. But JT had a lot to do with me going there.

“He took our defense to the next level. We won the PSAC.”

Who knew Brown (Norwin) and Thompson (Greensburg Central Catholic) would be coaching high school football teams years later, with both taking the wheel at Westmoreland County programs in the same year?

Four new head coaches will stalk local sidelines this season.

The new leaders are taking over reputable programs, including the Greensburg triangle of programs in Hempfield, Greensburg Salem and Greensburg Central Catholic.

“We had a little transformation here with the new coaches in the county,” said Ty George, the new coach at Greensburg Salem. “It’s neat to see.”

Brown is in his first year at Norwin after coaching Hempfield the last two seasons.

Thompson, who spent more than 20 years coaching at the college level, is a prep coach for the first time, at GCC.

They join two more men who are head coaches for the first time in George, and Nick Keefer at Hempfield.

There are more connections: Keefer was an assistant at Hempfield when George played quarterback for the Spartans.

“I was 23 and he was 18, so we weren’t that far apart age-wise,” Keefer said. “We talk all the time. We’re kind of both going into this together. I coached him in track, too.”

Also, Keefer was an assistant under Brown at Hempfield. Greensburg Salem visits Hempfield in Friday night’s season opener.

Valley, another county school, also has a new leader in former Southmoreland coach Mark Adams.

There has been turnover at 10 area programs since last year. Last season, Mike Arone (Derry), Ron Prady (Latrobe), Tom Paulone (Jeannette), Ben Hoffer (Yough), Tim Bukowski (Southmoreland) and Dave Heavner (Valley) began coaching at local schools.

Family ties

One day early in the summer when he was getting settled, Thompson was carrying some bins full of team gear from his car to the high school.

A voice called out from across the parking lot.

“Coach, can I help you with that?”

It was sophomore Samir Crosby, his standout receiver and defensive back, who was finishing a workout.

“The kids are like that here,” said Thompson, 51. “They were very welcoming from the start.”

Thompson originally is from Rome, N.Y., but his family has ties to GCC.

His wife, Sarah (Kovach), is a GCC alum. Her father, the late Dick Kovach, played football at Pitt.

Several other relatives also attended GCC.

Thompson played and later coached at Marist. His other college stops included Sacred Heart, Mercyhurst, Saint Vincent, Gannon and Saint Francis (Pa.).

At each program, his forte was defense.

“I think he should be a college head coach,” Brown said. “But he has his family and that is a great thing, too.

“I was at a flag game at GCC a few years ago and I heard this voice. It was JT. I’d know that voice anywhere.”

Thompson replaces Marko Thomas, who left GCC after two seasons.

“I want my team to play hard and to play the right way,” Thompson said. “I want them to be respectful and show sportsmanship. They should be humble in victory and keep their heads up in defeat.”

Same but different

Brown did his best to turn things around at Hempfield in a short time. He guided the Spartans to a 5-0 record halfway into last season, their best start since 1971, but injuries sent them into a tailspin and they finished 6-4.

Brown, 32, and offensive coordinator Ryan Reitz, who is now in the same position at Central Catholic, implemented a no-huddle offense that had the Spartans snapping the ball as soon as the referee set it down.

Hempfield played fast. But will Norwin do the same?

“We’ll take the things we did well and apply them here,” he said. “I’d like to (play fast again) if we can. We’ll play to our strengths, but we won’t force it.”

Hempfield and Norwin are similar programs with both going from Class 6A to 5A in recent seasons. They play in the same conference.

But Brown is seeing subtle differences.

“These kids are learning a new offense, a new defense, new special teams, new weight program,” Brown said. “We’re trying to get everyone on board. The nice thing about Norwin is that everyone is hungry to have a winning program. The entire community wants to be a part of the change. There is a lot of talent and speed here. We need to find a way to get these impressive athletes the ball.”

Brown was quick to seek guidance from former Knights coach Dave Brozeski, a well-liked leader of the team for nine years.

“A week into it, I sat down with him in his classroom,” Brown said. “That speaks volumes about him. Two or three years ago, I tried to get on his staff here. I am really impressed by him. I wanted to know everything, from where the shoulder pads were to what he did in practice. He helped me out and gave me a sense of what to expect.”

Learning curve

George is not looking to build some counterculture at Greensburg Salem, where he is a middle-school social studies teacher.

“No, there is already so much culture, history and tradition here,” said George, 28. “I want our guys to play for those who played here in the past.

“I want to put my own twist on the program, but work within the framework.”

And while he has been an assistant at Hempfield and Greensburg Salem in the past, George remains open for knowledge.

He brought Rich Bowen, his high school coach at Hempfield, on to the staff. Bowen and Casey Cavanaugh, another veteran coach who also coached at Hempfield, give George a sounding board and years of experience to lean on.

“They have so much knowledge,” George said. “They can share with me things they have seen. I can’t possibly mimic what they have done at my age, but I can learn from them.”

George was an assistant for three years under Dave Keefer, the man he replaced. Keefer guided the Golden Lions for 10 years.

“I never sat down and said I want to be a head coach by this age or that age,” George said. “Sometimes, you just need the right opportunity to turn up.”

Chief Keef

Nick Keefer was an assistant for nine years under three head coaches before landing the top spot at Hempfield this offseason.

He called his new venture a dream.

“I am loving every minute of it,” he said. “My girls’ childhood memories will be going to Disney. Mine are going to football camp and Notre Dame spring ball with my dad.

“To be able to do this here, with my dad and brother, and all these kids I love, it is a dream. My (twin) daughters are getting into cheerleading.”

His father, Tim, will coach running backs, while his brother, Zach, will be defensive coordinator.

Nick Keefer, 34, worked under Brown, Rich Bowen and Greg Meisner, serving as offensive coordinator for three years.

Hempfield had 100 players signed up heading into the season, with a steady 75 showing up to voluntary summer workouts.

“The kids are excited and ready to learn,” Keefer said. “I have known these kids the whole time, whether it’s been in the classroom, or in football and track.”

Familiarity is the flashlight Keefer is using to navigate his first season in charge.

“It’s a huge advantage,” said Keefer, a middle school math teacher in the district and a Belle Vernon grad. “When I was JV coach, I could see what the kids could do and what they do well. I knew (quarterback) Keiran Lippmann since he was a ball boy for us.”

Keefer, like most head coaches, including George and Brown, has borrowed traits and tendencies from other coaches.

“Speed (work), I learned from Rich (Bowen),” Keefer said. “Reps I learned from (softball coach Bob) Kalp, split-staff came from coach Brown. And (former NFL lineman) Greg Meisner taught me to surround myself with good people. He truly cared for the kids. His heart was as big as his hands.”

Hempfield was installing a new scoreboard and lights, renovations that brought a smile to Keefer’s face.

“It’s all butterflies and rainbows now,” Keefer said. “Let’s see how it goes when we’re playing in front of people.”

New man in charge

Hempfield, Norwin, Greensburg Salem and Greensburg Central Catholic all have new football coaches. Here are the last five coaches at each school:

Hempfield

Mike Brown (2021-22)

Rich Bowen (2012-20)

Greg Meisner (2005-11)

Bo Ruffner (2003-04)

Gary Dongilli (2000-02)

Norwin

Dave Brozeski (2014-22)

Art Tragesser (2010-13)

Dan Conwell (2004-09)

Tim McCabe (1993-03)

Randy Rovesti (1984-92)

Greensburg Salem

Dave Keefer (2013-22)

Casey Cavanaugh (2005-12)

George Kemerer (1995-04)

Jimmy Jones (1986-94)

Paul Murphy (1976-85)

Greensburg C.C.

Marko Thomas (2021-22)

Bret Colbert (2019-20)

Aaron Smetanka (2017-18)

Dan Mahoney (2012-16)

Muzzy Colosimo (1995-11)

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

Tags: Greensburg C.C., Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Norwin