Kuhns at home as new Beth-Center coach
Beth-Center’s football program is about to embark on a new beginning and the district brought in one of its own to lead it. Joe Kuhns, a successful athlete at Beth-Center High School and a proven football coach, was hired in February to replace Ed Woods, who had a 113-55 record in 17 seasons.
”I’ve always been in the community,” said Kuhns. “I never left. I got experience in high school and college, so I thought I had a very good shot (at getting the job). It’s like coming full circle for me. That’s where I started and, hopefully, that’s where I’ll retire.”
Kuhns played three years at Beth-Center before graduating in 1987.
”They called us twerps back then,” he said. “I went through it all, junior high and at the high school. I played in the finals my senior year at Three Rivers Stadium. Those were some special memories at Beth-Center, that’s for sure.”
Kuhns spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach at Waynesburg University. Previously, he coached California High School to six consecutive playoff seasons. Kuhns, a California University graduate, left the Trojans’ job in 2008 with a 38-36 record. He also had a three-year stop at Waynesburg High school “Being at the college was a pretty cool job,” said Kuhns. “I told my wife that the only way I would leave the Waynesburg job would be if this one opened up.”
Kuhns now takes his spot in a long line of successful coaches, including Don Bartolomucci, Bill Connors and Woods. “There is a strong, strong football tradition there,” said Kuhns. “We’re not going too come in and try to turn things on its head.”
Kuhns said he might run some spread option plays to “add a little flavor to the offense.
”We are not going to completely overhaul it. We’ll use some of the stuff Ed had in it. I’m going to put a lot on the quarterbacks. I don’t want them to be a robot and afraid to change things (at the line of scrimmage). They might not be used to it, but that can be pretty effective.”
Another major change for Beth-Center is the move up to Class AA when the PIAA instituted its six classification system. Two other former Tri-County South Conference teams – Frazier and Bentworth – went along with Beth-Center and will renew some old rivalries, especially with perennial power Washington.
”My daughter is a junior (at Beth-Center) and I would take her to games,” said Kuhns. “Some of those games were so hard to watch. You could see it with the fans, in their eyes. There was no excitement, except for one or two games a year.”
The Bulldogs must replace Tony Welsh, one of the most prolific runners in the program’s history. Welsh’s powerful style helped the Bulldogs to the WPIAL playoffs for four consecutive seasons. He ended his career with 5,062 rushing yards – only the fifth local athlete to reach that mark – and 83 career touchdowns. The 6-0, 201-pounder finished fourth in the WPIAL with 1,945 yards and 28 touchdowns, averaging 8.6 yards per carry. He finished second in school history in rushing yards and led the Bulldogs to an area-best 13th consecutive playoff appearance, where he ran for 205 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Avonworth.
Dom Fundy will be among a group of underclassmen who will get opportunities at running back early. Fundy, a 6-1, 185-pound sophomore, rushed for 465 yards on 50 carries and scored five touchdowns last season. While Fundy is eager to play, he said no one can replace Welsh’s natural running style. “I wouldn’t say I’m taking over for Tony,” Fundy said. “It’s going to be tough because he was a really good player. I think it just means we have to play together. If we work hard enough, I think we can accomplish our goals. “
Trent Cunko, a 5-8 senior, returns at quarterback after a season of mostly handoffs to Welsh. Cunko completed 26 of 44 passes for 255 yards and two TDs. He ran well, gaining 346 yards on 81 attempts and scoring seven touchdowns.
One major plus for the team is the size that returns to the line. Seniors David Headley (6-4, 272), Jim Romanakis (6-2, 270), Ray Bruno (6-2, 250) and Colton Belmont (6-2, 230), and juniors Tim Trump (6-2, 251) and Mike Esmond (6-2, 238) will help ease the loss of Welsh in the running game.