Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Wash High hires Nicolella, Midgley leaves FC


The Washington School Board hired Joe Nicolella Monday night as its new athletic director. Nicolella replaces Ron Faust, who will retire at the end of the school year.

Nicolella (pictured right with Faust) is no stranger to Washington athletics as he has spent most of the past two decades as Faust's main boys basketball assistant.

A special board meeting will take place Wednesday, May 13 at 6 p.m. for the purpose of hiring a varsity football coach. The position, held by Bill Britton the previous six years, has been open since early January.

According to several sources, the extensive search is down to two candidates.

  • Franklin Regional hired Brad Midgely as its new boys basketball coach earlier this week. Midgley coached the Fort Cherry boys the past two years, guiding the Rangers to a WPIAL Class AA playoff berth in 2009 in addition to a 14-8 record.

40 comments:

FBCoach said...

Word is Mike Bosnic from Carmichaels is the man they are going to hire for football. I cannot believe they are taking so long. Whoever gets the job is WAY behind. It will be almost impossible to be successful this season after losing 5 months of work. Why are they dragging their feet?

Anonymous said...

Anybody out there have any clue who the two candidates are? For the next few years Wash High Athletics is in a bit of peril. I sure hope the next regime can lead the school back to the quality athletics Prexie fans are accustomed to following.

Anonymous said...

In hiring Nicolella as athletic director they are saying the status quo is acceptable. Too bad.

mike_kovak said...

From what we've heard, one attended Wash High, the other grew up in Fayette County.

Anonymous said...

That would leave Mike Bosnis and Chet Henderson. Mike is a quality coach but I don't think he realizes what he's getting into. Chet is also a quality guy but with no real coaching experience he could be in over his head. Unless I'm wrong and it's Richie Barnes who we're talking about. Again, a good guy but not sure about this.

Anonymous said...

Any chance Guy Montecalvo will return to coach football at Wash High and return the team to its glory days?

Anonymous said...

Why can't we just move on from Guy? He was great, and we will never find someone who could coach and motivate a commuity as well as his player. However, he is gone and WHS has to build a new legacy. If he was interested I am sure he would have contacting the district.

Anonymous said...

Wash High needs more than just a new coach. They need MOTIVATED athletes that have the heart to compete and have the will to win. Those days are gone for now. With Ron Faust leaving, the basketball team will have the same problem as the rest of the sports do. Quality coaches are needed, especially ones who demand respect and integrity, hard work and sacrifice. For years "the High" was spoiled with Bob Peton, Guy Montecalvo, and Faust. Three quality coaches who were respected by their athletes. Coincidence that they were successful?

It's Just Me said...

One would be surprised about why it's taken this long.

Anonymous said...

Fort Cherry coach leaving is not a big surprise. But the only question that should be asked is why let go of a former coach who was dedicated to the program and bring in a coach who was only passing thru..And please don't say you didn't know that...Do your homework next time...

Dale Lolley said...

Wash High has totally botched this football hiring. It's been about six months now and still no coach.
They should have just kept coach Briton.

Anonymous said...

I am not sure why the delay? Can anyone offer any insight? Were there that many candidates to choose from that it is taken this long? Let's face it, this program is not as strong as it once was.

Brant said...

My guess is that too many cooks are spoiling the soup. Paralysis by analysis.

Anonymous said...

Any chance Guy Montecalvo will return to coach football at Wash High and return the team to its glory days?

May 7, 2009 2:07 PM

You can have him back. He has proven that he clearly is nothing more that a "quality" AA Coach. Playing with the big boys in AAAA he is at best mediocre. While some may hail as an accomplishment that he has made the playoffs, keep in mind that of the 6 teams in the conference 4 make them. He is just the latest of many that were a big fish in a little pond that when he moved to bigger waters he was gobbled up & spit out. If you want him back take him.

Buyers remorse CM diehard.

Anonymous said...

My guess is is that if Montecalvo was indeed wanting to go back to Wash High he would be the new AD too. He would never come back just to be the football coach. Not at this point in his career. Wash High is struggling in many sports. Let's hope that the new blood can bring back the Prexie Pride.

Anonymous said...

You have to remember that Montecalvo had a super bunch of Asst. Coaches. He took a couple to CM when he left, but I believe most went elsewhere. Also, anybody that has watched the Prexies play football the past few years has seen how much the program has declined. Wash High does not have that large of a boys enrollment now, just barely in AA I believe.
Many players leave the team before the first game. Motivation is definately a factor so the new coach must find a way to keep these guys focused on the game.
As to the comment from the CM diehard, your school has one of the largest enrollments in Quad A
now and you still can't win with a top coach. Your CM team couldn't win when they were in AAA either.

Anonymous said...

In my opinion, a head coach is only as good as his assistants. He is/was smart enough to surround himself with quality people. With that said, Wash High athletics are in a sad state right now. Half the problem is coaching half is the fact that the athletes are not dedicated to their sport(s). It is going to take a long time before the football program comes back to life.

Anonymous said...

Supposed CM Diehard:

You are an imposter! My son plays football and other sports and I am close to the situation. Coach Montecalvo is revered by his players and all the other kids in the school he helps. I have witnessed some of the most exciting CM football the last few years, since the late 60's. Wins against teams like Woodland Hills, McKeesport, Mt. Lebanon, U.S.C. give our boys the confidence that they can play with anybody. If you need a CM football history lesson I'll be glad to provide you with one, but don't come on here acting like your one of our fans. Either your kid wasn't the star you thought he was or you're from another school trying to stir up trouble. I hope it is not true that coach is thainking about going back to Wash high.

Anonymous said...

How about Eugene Briggs at Fort Cherry? He has been the soul of that program for years. He's one of your own. He's not looking for a "stepping block" job. He enjoys being at home, he loves the game and he has still been hanging around. He's coached middle school and coordinates the all-star game. This is all after he was unjustly "let go." Come on FC... Do the right thing. Good Luck "E"

Anonymous said...

Question is can FC take back Briggs now? Or does a member/members of the school board have a agenda? Briggs shouldn't have been let go in the first place..like him or not he did stand for FC.

Anonymous said...

If it is this Mike Bosnic from Carmichaels, what can he bring to the table? What kind of players and program did he run? Any idea?

Anonymous said...

Let's face it, can it be worse than the last regime? Heck, the former coaching staff didn't even acknowledge the youth feeder program. I just hope that the new coach knows what he is getting himself into. There is talent available. I hope that he uses it better than the other coaches.

Anonymous said...

I hope the coaches of those feeder programs are willing to work with the new coach and his staff!

Anonymous said...

You are correct. It has to go both ways in order to be successful. I think that it should fall onto the AD to make sure that it happens. In all sports, basketball, football, softball, baseball, etc. Each step of the way our high school coaches should let the youth volunteer coaches know what they want their athletes to know before they hit the high school level.

Anonymous said...

I don't know if Joe Nicolella will be that guy to bring the feeders programs and high school programs together! If he is learning the ropes from Ron Faust, i highly doubt it. These positions, football coach, AD, needed some new blood. Someone outside the school district, someone with experience.

Tom K. said...

If Wash High is going to get these hires right, some things need to be required. These individuals must be strong willed and mentally tough from the start. They should have some experience in dealing with inner city youths and able to deal with some of the problems outside of sports. If the coach thinks this is going to be a 2 hr practice session and return to his roots outside of Washington, he will fail immediately. To be succcessful in these positions, it is going to be a year round job on and off the field. Everyone deserves the benefit of doubt. Statistically speaking most african american males from wh that are in college are playing sports. Those who do not play sports often don't attend college. After five months i hope the the school administrators did their homework.

Worried Parent said...

We must remember that the coach is here to coach all KIDS regardless of race. I agree that whoever is the coach should have come from a program that is diverse. However, if it is Mike Bosnic, how diverse is Carmichaels? We all know that answer. Parents, Community members, Feeder program coaches, have to get involved and bring back the pride to this school district. We must give all children the opportunity to excel in sports and well as academics.

Anonymous said...

Worried Parent,

Are you trying to stereotype the coach from Carmichaels? That in itself is unfair. You probably don't even know anything about him. Just because he is in a Greene County school district doesn't mean that he won't give all the athletes a fair shot. Apparently, the committee and the school board were impressed with him enough to give him a shot.

mike_kovak said...

Mike Bosnic played college football at Pitt. It's very difficult finding a community as diverse as Oakland.

Anonymous said...

Are you trying to stereotype the coach from Carmichaels? -

I honesty doubt that Carmichaels has a diverse background of students. As a teacher and a coach I am sure Mr. Bosnic will give ALL kids a fair chance. I just hope he is prepared for the type of students, parents, community and athletes he will be dealing with. I wish him good luck. It is good know that he was a player/student at the Univ of Pgh.

Anonymous said...

Boy am I confused, I thought it was a coach from Ohio? I guess we will find out tonight.

Tom k. said...

Mike Kovack, just because you went to college at Pitt and hung around different ethnicities does not mean you know how to deal with inner city kids. We are not making this a race issue, but there are some differences when coaching at city schools and schools in the suburbs. See I know all too well what these kids need. That don't just need a football coach, they need someone to teach them life skills and fully understand what is going on in their life. I am 100 percent sure no matter who gets the job, they will not be successful unless they become a everyday part of the community. If the school district is just hiring a football coach for x's and o's, shame on them. As far judging a person. Here are the facts. Greene county does not have an overwhelming black population. The majority of the athletes in football and basketball at the high are black. Not to say the kids are bad but there are differences and a big difference in white kids who attend a city school versus a country school.

Anonymous said...

Well Bosnic it is...I have just prayed for this coach to be the best for the kids and the community and will continue to do so. We have to have the community as positive backers as well so we can get that Prexie Pride spirit back. Let's support the Coach and team :) GO PREXIES!!

Anonymous said...

I agree with Tom K. that the new coach will need to put down roots in the community. Guy Montecalvo came from rural State College Pa. I think and was able to be successful so someone from Greene Co. can too!

Anonymous said...

Anon, dont be so ignorant. Mr. Montecalvo was born and raised in washington as was Mr. faust. Also, influential members of the community tried having some input and they were rebuffed. I guess the administration does not care considering the top official herself lives in wheeling, wv and has all the answers for washington. One of the main reasons we are even in this situation now. You never know what you had until it is gone.

Anonymous said...

I love Wash High and have faith that we will one day regain and maintain our athletic reputation and Prexie Pride!

Anonymous said...

I agree, we can't let all this negativity bring them down, we need to be supportive and enthusiastic! GO PREXIES!

Anonymous said...

Can anyone tell my why Pete Logan is still the Ringgold Boys Basketball Coach??? The man had a few lucky teams with players like George Lemon. That Brownsville team would have won without a coach.

Logan is terrible. Kids are quitting the team. No one shows up for practice. He still plays kids who never show up to practice. This guy is not building a program. He is just contributing to the downfall of the program.

Anonymous said...

Let me see if I have this right. I think Mike Bosnic came from Laurel Highlands High School, which is in Uniontown, which in racial diversity is as close to Washington as your can get. He played at Pitt (diverse) and lived in Oakland (diverse). But his background is not diverse enough because he coached at Carmichaels, a rural school? Sounds like Mr. Bosnic has a more diverse background than any of us. You can't get more diverse than Uniontown, Oakland an Carmichaels.

Anonymous said...

Tom k., your arguments as to why Bosnic shouldn’t have been hired are absurd. By definition Washington is by no stretch of the imagination an inner city. The term is applied to the poorer parts of major cities. The residents are less educated, impoverished, and where there involved or subject to more crime. Inner city is related to cities with large African American population. Detroit 84%, Baltimore 64%, the District of Columbia 60% is example of cities with large African American populations. A city that’s 81% white with a little more then 2,000 of the 15,000 resident are black isn’t considered an urban inner city. Another argument you attempt to make is the head football coach has to be able to deal with the “problems outside of sports”. Why doe’s the head football coach have to be any more responsible then the school superintendent, principal, or teacher? You said; “statistically speaking most African American males from wh that are in college are playing sports”, and what is your point? The new white head football coach won’t be able to coach African American male players like the previous white head football coaches so now black athletes won’t be going to college? Tom k., its apparent your choice for head coach football coach didn’t get the job. I’m not saying your choice wouldn’t have made an excellent coach. I’m saying that your argument based simply on race doesn’t make the case for why Bosnic shouldn’t have been hired. Some could say your inference about Washington being an inner city is bigoted and racist. You have stereotype all African-Americans in Washington by implying they have special needs, which is not factual. If your trying to say the Washington School District doesn’t give consideration to African Americans when they are candidates for head coaching jobs that might be true. But your point as to why a black should be hired over a white isn’t a valid one. In this city black kids and white kids face the same pit falls. I’m curious, if you really do believe Washington High School is an inner city high school. Because of that they need to hire an African American to deal with those special inner city needs. Did you raise the same concerns when the school district hired the superintendent or principal?