Aeschbacher resigns as Charleroi football coach
By John Sacco
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
Just when some improvement was made and young talent seems to be on the way, Charleroi High School is again looking for a football coach.
Ty Aeschbacher, who coached the Cougars the past two seasons, resigned Wednesday, leaving the district in somewhat scramble mode to get a new coach in place.
Aeschbacher said he resigned to pursue other interests, which cannot be disclosed at this time.
“I had to make a decision that was based on what is best for my family and for me,” Aeschbacher said. “I think the program is back on the right track. I know there is big hope for the current eighth-grade class. I think the future is bright.”
This past season, Charleroi went 1-9 overall and 1-5 in the WPIAL Class 2A Century Conference. The Cougars snapped a 14-game losing streak when they defeated Sto-Rox in 2024.
A year earlier, Charleroi went winless, going 0-9 overall and 0-6 in conference play.
Bruno Pappasergi, the Cougars’ athletic director, said Charleroi aims to have a new coach in place by the end of March.
“I’ve never discouraged (Ty) from looking other places,” Pappasergi said. “He’s too young. He loved being here. He loved everything about the program, administration and the kids. He had an opportunity to go to a position and place he loves.”
Pappasergi said Charleroi needs someone to step up and take over.
“It was posted immediately in-house and so that has to go for about 10 days,” he explained. “Then I’ll post it and, hopefully, we’re going try to and have the new coach in place by March 18 – our next school board meeting. That’s our goal now. Whether or not it’ll happen, I can’t say for sure but that’s what our goal is right now.”
Pappasergi said assistant coaches are going to remain with the program to operate weightlifting and other things until a new coach is in place.
“We’re looking for the improvement to continue, that’s all,” Pappasergi said. “We’re not looking at anything more than that right now. If we get a chance to win the championship, great. The ultimate goal is just to make sure our kids get good coaching and learn and when they come out of our programs, they always come out better young people.
“It’s a desirable job and a job that people would like because if they looked at our middle school last year, they could see a lot of potential coming up. I think there is going be some interest in the job.”
In addition to Charleroi, other area schools searching for a football coach are Belle Vernon, Beth-Center and Waynesburg.
According to Denise Fundy, Beth-Center athletic director, the district has re-posted for applications for its opening.
The district’s board of directions opened the football position, which had been held by Tony Ruscitto.
Fundy said applications and interviews will be accepted and conducted through March 7. She expects a new coach will be hired in March.