DeUnger named Charleroi football’s new head coach

The Charleroi Area School District didn’t have to go very far to find its new football coach.

Scott “Scooter” DeUnger, a Charleroi grad and former multi-sport standout, was unanimously hired Tuesday to replace Ty Aeschbaher, who resigned to take an assistant coaching job at Robert Morris University.

DeUnger, 45, was chosen from a field of 13 candidates for the job, six of whom were interviewed by the school board.

He said his main desire for the program, along with restoring the Cougars’winning tradition, is bringing badly needed stability to the program.

“We lost our identity with six coaches over the last 10 years,” DeUnger said. “The numbers have been dropping. These kids need stability and that’s what I will bring. I told the board in my interview is I’m here to stay. I’m not going anywhere.”

Although this will be his first varsity coaching job, DeUnger is very familiar with the players.

He coached many of them in youth football and then served as middle school head coach last season for a team that went 8-0.

“Last year, we had around 15 kids – only two sophomores,” he said. “It’s hard to have a successful, stable program that way. I have 19 kids coming up from that middle school team alone and I know their abilities very well.

“But I’m also looking out for the sophomores, juniors and seniors as well,” he added. “When I meet with the kids, I’m going to tell them that Friday night lights only last four years and it goes fast. I don’t want any of them to have regrets later in life that they missed out on that. I want as many kids to experience that feeling at Charleroi as possible.”

Charleroi athletic director Bruno Pappasergi said DeUnger was impressive in his interview.

“Scooter is a fiery, hardnosed guy who has a great passion for Charleroi,” said Pappasergi. “I coached him in baseball and basketball. If he brings that same attitude to our program, we will be better for it.”

DeUnger said once the position opened, he felt, “this was the perfect opportunity to go for it. It’s not a stepping stone. This is home for me.

“I’m excited. I can’t wait to get started.”

DeUnger has already put together an impressive staff that includes coaches with years of experience, some of it as a head coach.

His staff includes Luke Mollis, B.J. Tempest, Cary Charles, Don Klinger, P.J. Jones, Chris Swan and Geno Pellegrini.

“He has put together a great staff, starting with Luke, who was a head coach and is in the school every day,” said Pappasergi.

DeUnger said he expects to meet the team soon, talk to the parents, and start recruiting new players soon. Then he is going to get the weight and conditioning program going.

After that, he will get the Cougars set up in some 7-on-7 loops.

“There’s a lot of work to do, but I’m not afraid to roll up my sleeves,” he said. “I’m confident these kids will work for me.”

When the Cougars host cross-river rival Monessen in the 2025 season opener, he says Charleroi fans will see a hard-nosed team that will scrap and fight and not give up.

“We’re in a tough conference with some good teams, but we will compete,” he said. “If we take our lumps early, it won’t be long before we are giving out the lumps.”

Pappasergi said DeUnger was hired on a year-to-year contract. His salary will be $10,000.