Baldwin Football Parent Asks School Leaders to Review Coaching Staff

Jeff Ruscitto, a Whitehall Borough resident and a parent of two members of the Baldwin High School varsity football team, is not a fan of the team's current coaching situation.

Ruscitto took his concerns directly to the Baldwin-Whitehall School Board on Wednesday night, asking if district administration is considering the replacement of any members of the high school football staff.

Jim Wehner, a physical education teacher at Baldwin High, is the program's head coach.

"Hearing some of the comments that they (some of the team's players) have made," Ruscitto said, "there are a significant amount of players that plan on not returning next year to play if the current regime is in place. I've heard some coaches that don't wanna come back, as well.

"So just I want to be sure that this (considering a coaching change) is given it's due weight and this is seriously looked at because, being a football coach myself and having a whole family of football coaches ... we are not happy with what is happening, haven't been happy with the whole communication process and where our teams are heading, talent evaluation and on and on."

Wehner, who was not present at the board meeting, was asked on Thursday if he had any comment regarding Ruscitto's inquiries. Wehner had no comment.

Following Baldwin's season-ending 42-25 loss to Bethel Park High School on Oct. 26, Wehner said, "I like this team, and hopefully, I'm gonna get the opportunity to coach them again."

B-W School District Superintendent Dr. Randal A. Lutz responded to Ruscitto on Wednesday, saying that the high school's fall sports coaches have not been evaluated yet this year.

In 2012, Wehner's Highlanders did not win more games than they did in their previous season for the first time in his four years as their head coach.

Baldwin finished its 2012 season at 3-6 overall—one game worse than its 4-5 mark from a year ago. In 2010, Baldwin was also 3-6, but that was after a 2-8 mark in 2009 (Wehner's first season with the team) and after a 0-9 record in 2008.

Read through other Baldwin-Whitehall School Board items here.

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