Bellefonte football coach submits resignation

BELLEFONTE — Bellefonte Area High School will have a new football coach in 2023.

Although last week’s Bellefonte school board meeting was postponed due to a surprise snowstorm, head coach Vaughn Donmoyer’s resignation is still on the agenda.

The resignation will be officially accepted at the meeting, which has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 29.

Under Donmoyer, the Red Raiders won just one game this season, a slim 9-8 victory over Philipsburg-Osceola. They have won a total of three games in his two seasons at the helm, compiling a 3-17 record.

At a school board meeting earlier this month, several parents spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting, criticizing Donmoyer and his staff for a number of things, including practices, game play, play calling and involvement in the community.

Recently, a parents-only meeting was held at a local church to discuss the future of the program.

According to an email from the parent group, they voiced several concerns.

Those included:

– The process for hiring a head coach and athletic director.

– Evaluation of a coach’s performance.

– Lack of discipline.

– Lack of respect among players and coaches.

– The failure of the off-season workout program.

– No conditioning.

– Complete lack of fundamentals.

– Injuries.

– Poor play calling.

– Changing of entire offense during mid-season.

– Lack of game preparation.

n Lack of communication.

n No community involvement.

Also, the booster club purchased an $8,000 sled for the program. Prior to last week’s snow, parents said the sled had been used minimally and weeds were growing around it.

Donmoyer was hired a couple of years ago to replace former head coach Shanon Manning, who resigned to take the head coaching position at Central Mountain High School.

Donmoyer is one of three coaches who submitted resignations, which are also on next week’s agenda. The other coaches are involved in the junior high track and field program and the junior high cross country program.

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29, at the Bellefonte Area Middle School. The meeting is open to the public and will also be recorded by C-NET.