Former Pine-Richland head coach begins season with Mars football team – WPXI Pittsburgh

MARS TOWNSHIP, Pa. Mars football has a new but familiar face leading them this season. Former Pine Richland head coach Eric Kasperowicz is now at the helm for the Fightin Planets.

After being in the spotlight for an alleged hazing investigation with the Rams program, hewas ultimately let go bythePine-Richland administration. However,Kasperowicz nowaimsto moveforwardandlead Mars to their first ever WPIAL title.

The communitys been nothing but just outstanding, welcoming, said Kasperowicz.

Its a new chapter and a new challenge for Kasperowicz. One hes welcoming with wide open arms.

Theyve been thriving to get over that hump, said Kasperowicz. Mars traditionally has been a great football program, won a lot of football games, just hasnt quite been able to get over the hump. And thats what were trying to do.

Kasperowiczs journey to Mars has been anything but an easy one. Back in April 2021, Pine-Richland fired the head coach following claims of bullying and hazing in the program claims Kasperowicz firmly denies.

It was very tumultuous, said Kasperowicz. It was a tough time. I mean, ... you have 99.9% of the people in your corner backing you, from kids, to players to parents, when its an administrative issue. Its just a shame that they did that to those kids. But, you know, were back on our feet. Everythings moving forward. Were on to the next phase, and were looking to turn this program and Mars around.

When it comes to changing the culture at Mars, the players have welcomed those changes with open arms.

This year, we have the biggest freshman class playing football Ive ever seen, said senior defensive end and guard Alex Jablunovsky. We have more kids (thanwe)have ever had on the team before, and I think his presence and this coaching staffs presence is really goingto help build excitement for the program.

Kasperowicz embraces community in every sense of the word. Its a value hes making sure toinstill in his new players.

He was encouraging us to go to games with other teams because he feels thats really important that building that entire community support for our team, said Jablunovsky

And while it may take a little time for Mars to get over that hump and win their first WPIAL title, Kasperowicz knows good things are on the horizon for his new team.

Theyre thirsting for that; they want that. They want to be great, said Kasperowicz. So its in place. ...Whether it takes... three weeks or whether it takes three years, I dont know. But were going to try to make that the sooner rather than the latter.

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Former Pine-Richland head coach begins season with Mars football team - WPXI Pittsburgh