By JEREMY SELLEW
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One of the most prolific boys soccer programs in the area will be looking for a new head coach.
Rob Miele, who has led the Belle Vernon Area boys soccer team to two straight section titles, informed the team Monday he is stepping down as head of the program.
Miele just finished his fourth season with the Leopards, leading them to a 14-3 overall mark and a 10-2 record in Section 3-3A play.
“I’m not sure there is or would have ever been the right time from the program’s perspective but this was a very lengthy decision on my part, one that I considered shortly after the season when I sat down and reflected on everything,” Miele said. “But I didn’t want to rush into an emotional decision, which is why I took some time. For myself and my family, it’s the right time to walk away.”
Miele and his wife Kaila, both teachers in the Elizabeth Forward School District, will celebrate the first birthday of their son, Luca, in February.
“Leaving for practices, games, or catching a bus after school for an away game and not seeing him at all isn’t going to get any easier,” Miele said. “I think coaching opportunities will always be there in some capacity but these opportunities to be a dad won’t be. Right now my focus is on that.”
Miele finished with a career record of 57-14-4 at BVA with the two section titles and four playoff appearances. His .787 winning percentage is the highest in program history.
Prior to coming to BVA, he was 18-15-4 with a playoff appearance as head coach at Elizabeth Forward. Overall as a head coach, he was 75-29-8.
“This was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made in my life. I love coaching,” Miele said. “Coaching here at Belle Vernon as an alum of the program was truly a dream come true. This was my dream job when I started coaching middle school here in 2007 as a 19-year-old.
“Getting here and having the success that we did made this decision quite difficult.”
Miele met with members of the team Monday afternoon.
“I’m at peace now,” he said with a laugh. “It was pretty emotional for me. The meeting was good and I think they were shocked. I think some understood the reasons. I met with the seniors afterwards and they expressed their understanding. I don’t get an inkling they knew what was coming.
“I told them after that I felt like I was letting them down, but they expressed to me that they didn’t feel that way. I just feel like I can’t give them what they need. To try and scale back on everything we’ve been doing, I feel like I’d be cheating them.”
Miele said he’s going to miss a lot no longer being the coach.
“The biggest thing is the relationships you build with the kids,” he said. “Once we start in June, we’re together four to six times per week for two hours a day. You really get to know these kids.
“The other thing I’m going to miss is the feeling you have when you wake up on a game day. I had the same feeling as a coach that I did as a player.”
While Miele is stepping away from the high school game, he said he’s still going to continue his current role at Century United.
“I’m not retiring from coaching altogether, but I think one day when the time is right again and the situation makes sense, I could see myself getting back into it,” he added.
The Leopards have a lot of talent returning in the fall and Miele thinks the team is in a great situation. It should be an attractive opening for interested coaches.
“I’ve always been someone who wants to leave anything better than how I found it and I think with our success and impact in the youth program, it’s in a really good position,” Miele said. “Right now, the team is anticipating almost 40 players on the roster, definitely the biggest ever, so the excitement and interest in the sport at Belle Vernon is evident.
“I’d really like to see a coach come in that’s dedicated and knows the importance of high school athletics. It’s a different environment than club soccer and is a huge time commitment. It’s truly a year-round job and I think this program is primed for success moving forward. The cupboard is definitely not bare by any means.”
Miele assured the team even though he won’t be their coach, he’ll still be around.
“Absolutely. If I was leaving to go somewhere else, they’d have a right to be upset,” Miele said. “I’m still going to be paying close attention to everything they’re doing and wish them nothing but continued success. I’m still going to be around and I’m going to continue being their biggest fan.”
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