Rich Kolesar was the coach at Laurel Highlands for six seasons, his last coming in 2024. On Friday night, he will go against his former Mustangs.
Kolesar is now a first-year defensive coordinator at Southmoreland, where Dustin Shoaf is a rookie head coach.
Kolesar has fond memories of coaching the Mustangs (2-0), who will visit Southmoreland (2-0) for the first football game on the just-installed turf at Russ Grimm Field. He coached former star Rodney Gallagher, who is now a wide receiver at West Virginia.
Laurel Highlands won a conference title in 2022.
"This game isn't about me, Kolesar said. "I would be doing a disservice to our team if I treated it any different. Our goal is to go 1-0 each week, and that hasn't changed."
Going from head coach to an assistant takes some adjustments, but Kolesar said it has been a smooth transition working for Shoaf, who is the youngest coach in the WPIAL at 24.
"Coach Shoaf is an exceptional leader and has this program headed in the right direction," Kolesar said. "I am enjoying working with such a great coaching staff, group of players, and administration to build something special at Southmoreland."
Several other local coaches know what it is like to go against their former team or alma mater.
Norwin coach Mike Brown is a teacher at Penn-Trafford, where he also is a graduate, and had to deal with the awkwardness of having opposing players in class.
"There was a lot of silence," Brown said. "But that said a lot. They kind of let me know that way."
Each year, Penn-Trafford coach John Ruane goes against Gateway, his alma mater and the place where he teaches. The Warriors and Gators are scheduled for a clash Oct. 3.
Former Latrobe coach Ron "Boomer" Prady is back on Ruane's staff at Penn-Trafford, which will play Latrobe in the last game of the regular season. Prady was the Wildcats' top man for the last three years.
Another Penn-Trafford assistant, Tim Bostard, used to be the head coach at Woodland Hills. Penn-Trafford plays Woodland Hills next Friday.
Franklin Regional alum Colyn Haugh is a first-year head coach at Kiski Area. Franklin Regional and Kiski Area will play Sept. 26.
Burrell first-year coach Dom Girardi will go against Highlands, where he used to be the head coach, Oct. 10.
Mark Adams, the head coach at Valley, used to coach at Southmoreland. Those schools played in Week Zero.
Shoaf and another one of his assistants, Scott Wood, will face Yough on Oct. 3. Shoaf is Yough's all-time leading rusher, and Wood used to be the head coach of the Cougars.
Ryan Reitz, the offensive coordinator at Central Catholic, is a former Hempfield assistant. Central and Hempfield will meet Sept. 19.
Norwin ranked
Both Class 6A teams from Westmoreland County are now ranked in the TribLive top five. Norwin (1-1), which broke a nine-game losing streak last week, moved into the No. 5 spot.
Hempfield (2-0) is ranked No. 3.
The other ranked teams are Central Catholic (1), North Allegheny (2) and Seneca Valley (4).
Jeannette is the only other area team in the rankings. The Jayhawks are No. 5 in Class A.
Football no longer foreign
Fast food and football. New friends and new places to visit.
It's enough to put a smile on Christian Schjetne's face.
A junior foreign exchange student at Hempfield, Schjetne is a junior varsity placekicker from Oslow, Norway. He is reveling in his time in the states.
American football has made a push into Norway but only marginally. Most teens, Schjetne said, don't play the game there. Soccer rules the land in his home country.
"We came to America last year to watch Pitt and Clemson on a Friday, then we watched the Steeler and Ravens play," Schjetne said. "I really enjoyed it here and wanted to come back."
An accomplished tennis player, Schjetne has arranged practice sessions at Greensburg Raquet Club in between classes and football. He said people have been friendly and have helped him learn more about the area.
"It's really big here compared to Norway," he said. "The stadium here is really unique, and I really like it. I like seeing a new culture. I am always surprised when I see new things. I couldn't wait to try the fast food. Chipotle and Chick-fil-A. I want to eat as much as possible.
"Everyone has been very welcoming. They have shown me around and have been very helpful. In Norway, you don't need a car. We just take the train or walk."
Schjetne is here for one year. He said he will kick extra points and field goals and can kick off. But he does not fancy himself as a punter.
The Jeannette Educational Foundation and DeNunzio's Restaurant are teaming up to raise money for Jennifer and Dom Detruf, the widow and son of late Jayhawks alum and former quarterback T.J. Detruf, who died unexpectedly July 26.
"T.J.'s Tailgate" will take place from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Friday before the Jayhawks host Ligonier Valley at McKee Stadium.
The event will be outside of DeNunzio's Restaurant -- at the corner of Lowry Avenue and Vine Street.
Admission is $10. There will be food and drinks, music, raffles, games and special guests.
It has been nearly 10 years since Ligonier Valley played in the PIAA semifinals in football.
The Rams in 2016 captured the first of back-to-back Class 2A championships in District 6 on their way to a matchup with District 4 powerhouse Southern Columbia in the state semis.
Though Ligonier Valley lost that game, coach Roger Beitel's program was soaring high, compiling a record of 96-25 during a 10-year period from 2010-19.
The Rams won four Appalachian Bowl titles along the way and reached the District 6 finals in four consecutive seasons from 2016-19.
That was then. This is now.
Since returning to the WPIAL in 2020, Beitel's team has experienced minimal success. The Rams, who were 3-7 last season, dropped to 0-2 this year with Friday's 14-12 loss at home to Class 3A Greensburg Salem.
But it marked a big improvement over a season-opening 33-14 loss at Derry.
"We played a lot better," Beitel said. "We played inspired football. We were physical, and it looked more like a football team that we've coached in the past."
Ligonier Valley, without a healthy kicker, failed to add conversions on its two touchdowns against Greensburg Salem, throwing errant passes on both occasions.
The Rams' defense yielded both Golden Lions scores in the first quarter, then settled down to blank the visitors the rest of the way.
"Ligonier did some really good things," Greensburg Salem coach Ty George said. "They execute on their scheme. They did a really nice job. They've got a good program. Hats off to them and what they're able to do in competition."
Dave Mackall contributed.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at [email protected].