2022 was quite a year for Pine-Richland head coach Jon LeDonne. The first-year HC led the Rams to Pennsylvania’s 5A state title and a No. 198 ranking in the High School Football America 300, powered by NFL Play Football. Then, just before Christmas, LeDonne was named the Pittsburgh Steelers High School Coach of the Year, making him a finalist for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year Award.
Related: Final HSFA 300 national rankings
Below is a news release honoring Coach LeDonne:
In his first season as head coach of the Pine-Richland Rams, Coach Jon LeDonne led his team to the Class 5A PIAA State Championship over Imhotep Charter 28-14. This is the second state championship for LeDonne, becoming only the third coach in Pennsylvania to win the state title at two different schools. The season started off slowly for the Rams at 1-3, but a change to a dominating rushing attack turned the season around as they won twelve in a row to finish the season at 13-3. Their offense averaged over 30 points per game with two rushers combining for over 3,000 yards while their physical defense gave up only 15 points per contest.
Coach LeDonne is also the Steelers nominee for the NFL Don Shula Coach of the Year award which will be awarded later this season.
Pittsburgh Steelers
During each high school football season, the Pittsburgh Steelers select a High School Coach of the Week. This coach is selected by the Steelers as someone who has a big victory, a turnaround season, does extraordinary work in their community, and/or gives great effort to make a lasting positive impact in his student athletes. The Coach of the Week winners are invited to be honored at a Steelers home game and receive a framed certificate signed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Head Coach Mike Tomlin; a Steelers Coach of the Week cap and a $1,000 donation to their football program.
2022 Pittsburgh Steelers Coach of the Week Winners
Week 10 – Roger Beitel, Ligonier Valley HS
Week 9 – George Messich, Mapletown HS
Week 8 – John Skiba, Apollo-Ridge HS
Week 7 – Brian Cooper, Laurel HS
Week 6 – Marvin Mills, Sto-Rox HS
Week 5 – Jon Ledonne, Pine-Richland HS
Week 4- Rod Steele – West Mifflin HS
Week 3 – Mike Brown – Hempfield HS
Week 2 – Shawn Liotta – Burrell HS
Week 1 – Donta Green – Westinghouse HS
