Miele at home as new Belle Vernon soccer coach
Who says you can’t go home?
A 2006 Belle Vernon High School graduate, Rob Miele was hired Monday night as the Leopards’ new boys soccer coach.
“This is exciting and I am fortunate to be able to go back home,” he said. “I look forward to hitting the ground running.”
Miele was head coach of the Elizabeth Forward boys varsity team the last two seasons. He informed the EF players last night that he was leaving.
“It was not easy and I explained it to them that I would not have left for any other program,” he said. “They know I care about them and wish them the very best.”
Belle Vernon athletic director Matt Humbert discussed what stood out about Miele during the interview process.
“Rob’s organizational skills and vision of the program as well as the day-to-day operations was concrete with what we were looking for,” he said. “The work and commitment done at EF shown through as well.
“We have a solid squad returning and wanted to hire someone that displayed those qualities.”
Belle Vernon won the Section 3-AAA championship this past season and had a 13-4 record. Head coach John Kerekes resigned after the season ended.
Miele, meanwhile, guided EF to an 11-6-2 record, a third-place finish in Section 1-AA and the Warriors’ first playoff berth since 2011.
A four-year letter winner at Belle Vernon, where he scored 41 career goals including a school-record 31 during his senior year, Miele earned numerous honors including All-WPIAL Class AA and Section 1 “Finest 15.”
After kicking for the football team as a freshman at Bethany College, Miele transferred to California to focus on earning a degree in education and is a teacher in the Carmichaels school district.
While in college, Miele was the head coach of the Belle Vernon Middle School team and led ot to a 51-5-4 record and won two section titles in three seasons.
He served as an assistant for two seasons under the late Paul Sasko with the Belle Vernon girls varsity team before heading to Elizabeth Forward.
Miele also has experience coaching with the Century Soccer Club.
Lou Rood, Belle Vernon School Board vice president and the chairman of the athletic committee, is happy to see Miele take over the program.
“As an alumnus and standout soccer player, he understands the players, the history, and the tradition of the program,” Rood said. “I am looking forward to seeing what Rob can do going forward with the program.”
Miele has lofty goals for the Leopards.
“In terms of winning, BVA has never won a WPIAL or PIAA championship in soccer, and the pursuit of one just started,” he said. “But most importantly, we will teach them lessons that will serve them well throughout life.”