Haas returns to Becahi as head coach
Led Golden Hawks to state semis as interim coach in ’16
When Kyle Haas served as Bethlehem Catholic’s interim football coach in 2016, he enjoyed the job so much that he wanted to keep it.
But Haas was forced to step aside and Joe Henrich returned to the position, and coached the Golden Hawks for four more years. Haas spent one season as a Moravian College assistant, and then became head coach at Northampton for three years, where he went 19-10.
However, when Henrich resigned in early December over philosophical differences with the administration, Haas became interested in returning to Becahi, where he spent six seasons with the program from 2011-16.
On Wednesday morning, Golden Hawks athletic director Chris Domyan announced Haas was returning to the program.
“It is a blessing to have Coach Haas return to Bethlehem Catholic and lead our football program,” Domyan said in a release. “In 2016, as interim head coach, he electrified the football team and our entire school community with one of the best seasons in recent history. He is a passionate and inspiring leader who will connect with the players immediately.”
Haas said it was a difficult decision, but said it came down to what was best for his family.
“I sat down with my wife and we discussed it and it took a good week to work things out,” Haas said. “I came in on Tuesday and told [Northampton athletic director] Shaun Murry that I was going to resign, but I have been talking with Shaun and told him I was entertaining an offer from Bethlehem Catholic. When I told Shaun on Tuesday, I don’t believe it was a surprise to him.”
Haas expressed appreciation to Murray, superintendent Joe Kovalchik, assistant superintendent Bob Steckel, principal Luke Shafnisky and others for giving him an opportunity to build his own program.
“It was a great experience for me and I think I matured a little bit as a head coach in my three years there,” Haas said. “It was a labor of love to bring Northampton back to a level of respectability. But in the end, I couldn’t pass up what Bethlehem
Catholic was giving me. I know there are great people at Bethlehem Catholic and I am looking forward to getting a staff together and moving forward.”
The Golden Hawks went 11-4 under Haas in 2016, winning the District 11 4A title and advancing to the state semifinals before losing to Philadelphia Public School League power Imhotep Charter 24-13.
“I was a product of the Catholic school system and graduated from Allentown Central Catholic and I had the opportunity to teach for eight years at Bethlehem Catholic and was always very passionate about that,” Haas said. “I always thought that coaching and teaching correlated very closely to one another and I really enjoyed the interaction with the kids. High school kids keep you young and that was one of the reasons it was so alluring to back to Becahi, because I really enjoyed what I did at Becahi and that’s one of the opportunities I can get at Bethlehem Catholic that I couldn’t get at Northampton.”
Haas said one of his first priorities at Becahi will be to re-establish a freshman program.
“It’s so important that kids coming into the school get the opportunity to jell as a group before they move up into the varsity ranks,” Haas said. “I know they haven’t had a freshman program the last couple of years and I think that process that they go through in that first year is very important in setting the stage for the next three years.”
At Northampton, Haas went 8-4 overall, 7-1 Eastern Pennsylvania Conference North in his first season in 2018. In 2019, the Konkrete Kids won the division title with an 8-0 record and finished 10-2 overall and made a second straight trip to the District 11 playoffs.
In 2020, however, the K-Kids were forced to play primarily a Northampton County-only schedule and stumbled to 1-4, with a win over Liberty and four losses by a combined total of 42 points, with the most lopsided being a 44-20 loss on opening night to Freedom.
Haas said he was disappointed he couldn’t meet with his players at Northampton and tell him his decision directly due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
“I feel horrible I couldn’t let them know in person,” Haas said. “I had to put out a group message and that’s not how I wanted to do it for the kids, but there was a no other way under the time frame and having to get the word out. It bothers me. I didn’t want to handle it that way.”
Murray said he was disappointed to learn of Haas’ resignation, but added: “We now look forward to selecting a new head coach and building upon the foundation set by the hard work of our staff and most importantly, our student-athletes over the past several years. We wish Coach Haas the best moving forward and thank him for his time at Northampton.”
Murray said the school will begin its search immediately and that the position will be posted over the next several days.