Pennridge names former DelVal standout Beller as new head football coach
Pennridge filled its vacant head football coaching position on Tuesday by naming former Delaware Valley University team captain Kyle Beller the school's ninth head coach.
Most recently, Beller was the defensive coordinator at Whitehall High School (District 11) from 2019 to 2022. He helped lead the Zephyrs to the PIAA District 11 Class 5A title and a quarterfinal appearance in the PIAA tournament last season.
"After conducting an extensive search, we are excited to welcome Kyle to the Pennridge Ram family," Pennridge athletic director Scott Hegen said.
"We had 20 head-coach applicants from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Iowa. During his interview process, we quickly learned how much Kyle cares about his players and is committed to their growth and development into champions and the coaches we spoke to about him reinforced what we thought.
"It was important to find a partner who was committed to driving our football program to Suburban One League success while embracing the Pennridge community and our student-athletes."
Beller, a four-year starter and team captain as a linebacker at Delaware Valley University and 2001 graduate, also played football at Dieruff High School in Allentown. He has spent the last 12 seasons coaching at multiple Lehigh Valley football programs and relishes the opportunity to lead the Rams.
"I believe that the Pennridge football program can be a very competitive program in the Suburban One League with the amount of student-athletes, facilities and support from the administration and community," Beller said.
"I am extremely excited and thankful to have this new opportunity and am most excited about meeting the team and getting started."
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Beller, who was the head coach at his alma mater beginning in 2012, took a Huskies team that was in the midst of a 30-game losing streak and had it at .500 within two years, inherits a Pennridge team that went 2-9 a year ago. Four of those losses came by a total of 10 points against a schedule that included eight PIAA District One Class 6A playoff qualifiers.
"Kyle is an outstanding football coach and an influence on young men," said Tim Moncman, head coach of perennial District 11 powerhouse Parkland said.
"Kyle was one of the few coaches that was willing to take on the challenge of changing the culture of the Dieruff football program. He stressed the importance of academics and was able to instill in his players the importance of becoming an all-around better human being."
Beller hopes his postseason experience at Whitehall will help the Rams if they're in the same situation late in the year.
"The last four years, with having the chance to coach late into the playoff season, I gained the knowledge of helping to prepare and maintain the excitement throughout the year for the players," Beller said. "And also how to keep the players fresh to be at their best late in the playoff season."
Beller, who will teach business at Pennridge, replaces Chuck Burgy, who was not retained after just one season.
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Drew Markol: dmarkol@theintell.com; @dmarkol
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Pennridge hires former DelVal standout Beller as new football coach
