Allentown Central Catholic Stays In-House for New Head Football Coach

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Allentown Central Catholic was able to win a 3A state football championship in 2010 by staying within the confines of its tradition rich program.

When head coach Harold Fairclough resigned earlier this year, athletic director Mike Kopp only had to look on his staff for a replacement.

John Cupples, a 1999 Vikings grad, is CCHS' new head football coach.  Since 1997, Cupples has served as the Vikings assistant defensive coordinator.

Fairclough resigned to take a teaching position at Whitehall High School.  In six season, Fairclough led the Vikes to a 49-27 record.

Pennsylvania High School Coaching Changes

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

My good friend Dave Mika of EasternPAFootball.com and WesternPAFootball.net has done a great job of compiling a list of new head coaches for the 2012 season.

So far there have been 27 new hires, according to the websites.  Below is the list.

Eastern PA Coaching Changes

Dallas – Bob Zaruta
Dieruff – Kyle Beller
Fairfield – Darwin Seiler
Germantown Academy – Matt Dence
Hanover – Mike Ketterman
Imhotep Charter – Albie Crosby
Lansdale Catholic – Tom Kirk
Lehighton – Tom McCarroll
North Pocono – Greg Dohlon
Palisades – Kevin Ronalds
Salisbury – Andy Cerco
South Western – Damian Poalucci
Susquehanna Community – John Salinkas
Upper Perkiomen – Steve Moyer
Whitehall – Brian Gilbert
William Allen – George Clay
Williams Valley – Tim Savage

Western PA Coaching Changes

Altoona – John Franco
Brentworth – Bob Niziol
Charleroi – Ed Jenkins
Hempfield – Rich Bowen
Kane – Todd Silfries
Kiski Area – Dave Heavner
Kittanning – Frank Fabian
Neshannock – Fred Mozzocio
Penn Hills – John Peterman
Tyrone – Steve Guthoff

I also want to congratulate Dave on being honored for contributions to high school football at the Nike Coach of the Year Clinic.

West Catholic's Brian Fluck to be a Guest on High School Football America Thursday Night

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

Brian Fluck is one of the happiest head football coaches in Pennsylvania.

Fluck, who is the head football coach at West Catholic High School in Philadelphia, will join me Thursday night to talk about the rebirth of Burr football.

On January 6th, Fluck and the rest of West Catholic community found-out that the school would be closed at the end of the current school year by the archdiocese.  On February 24th, after a tremendous outpouring of support from the community, the archdiocese announced that West Catholic and three other schools will remain open.

According to Fluck, the news got even better when his star running back David Williams, who has over 15 scholarship offers, decided to remain with the Burrs.  Williams had been considering going to AAA state champ Archbishop Wood, but Fluck reported to me today that he'll stay at WC.

Click here to listen to Thursday night's show LIVE at 7pm EST.

Fluck also appears on the February 16th show talking about the closing.  Click here to listen to that show.

West Catholic and Two Others Football Schools to Remain Open

by Jeff Fisher
High School Football America

There were a lot of hallelujahs coming from four Philadelphia catholic high schools recently when the archdiocese decided to keep open four schools that it announced it was closing on January 6th.

West Catholic, Conwell-Egan, Monsignor Bonner/Archbishop Prendergast and St. Hulbert (all-girls, no football) will remain open and be playing football in the fall thanks to a tremendous outpouring of support since the January announcement.

The decision was made after close to 20,000 financial donations were received from a wide range of people.

The announcement is especially exciting for West Catholic head football coach and alum Brian Fluck, who now has a chance to build on last year's 10-4 season that ended with a loss in the Class AA state semifinals.  However, there will be a question on whether Fluck will have his senior, blue chip running back David Williams in the backfield.

Williams, who moved to West after his sophomore season when North Catholic closed, had begun looking at other schools, such as defending Class AAA champ Archbishop Wood.

Back on February 16th I spoke with Fluck on the High School Football America radio show about the close.  Click here to listen to that interview.