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LH hires Edenfield as head football coach
Ian Edenfield spent many Friday nights making plays on the turf at Mustang Field, but the 2018 graduate of Laurel Highlands High School has traded his cleats and shoulder pads for a clipboard (iPad) and whistle.
Edenfield was hired Tuesday night during a special meeting held by the Laurel Highlands School Board. He was hired by a unanimous vote, 9-0.
“It is pretty exciting to be coaching at my alma mater,” Edenfield said. “I was pretty emotional yesterday when they announced my name. It’s awesome to be able to come back and coach from where I grew up. I want to teach these kids to do things the right way, and that goes beyond football. I want them to win on and off the field.”
Edenfield’s phone was blowing up following the announcement of his hiring.
“I was on the phone from 5:30 until about midnight talking to boosters and people congratulating me,” Edenfield said. “I want the community to support and be proud of this team, the school and get back to having fun on Friday nights. I want to thank the school board and district for giving me the opportunity, and I’m appreciative for that.”
Edenfield replaces Aaron Raffle, who resigned in mid-March after coaching one season.
When he received word that the Mustangs were in search of a new head football coach, Edenfield didn’t hesitate to apply, and was referred by a number of coaches he had worked with as an assistant with the Uniontown Senior Legion baseball team and the Indiana University of Pennsylvania football squad.
“I had a lot of people reach out to school board members saying that I would be a great candidate,” Edenfield said. “I used guys like Richie Franks and the coaches at IUP as references. I busted my butt up at IUP and helped those kids in baseball with accountability and discipline. I really sold that I want kids to provide a great effort, no matter what the circumstances are. I believed that as a player, that’s how I coach.”
Edenfield practically grew up on the football field, and after he realized his playing days had ended, started to take up coaching.
“缅北禁地 are going to come to an end at some point,” Edenfield said. “I took the college route and applied to some schools before spending my last two years at IUP. I had to work for my abilities, and my athleticism also came with hard work. We would work from 6:30 in the morning to 2 a.m. and have to come right back in a few hours.
“I always had an idea that I wanted to be a coach. I have been on the football field at Laurel Highlands since I was three-years-old, so the decision to apply for the job was an easy one. I also coached with the Uniontown Senior Legion baseball team, and that was key in coaching high school kids.”
Edenfield recently finished his master’s degree in K-12 health and physical education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and completed his student teaching in physical education in the Belle Vernon Area School District with eight weeks each at Rostraver Township Elementary School and Belle Vernon Area High School. He has been approved to work at Laurel Highlands Middle and High Schools as a substitute for the remainder of the school year. Edenfield will focus on studying for the Praxis exams this summer while getting his team ready for the season.
“I would like to get a job at the high school once I pass the Praxis exams and receive my official teaching certification,” Edenfield said. “Zach Just (former Laurel Highlands football coach) was at the front door every day to greet the students, and I would like to be able to do that. I want to get out and meet the kids who are currently on the team and also look to recruit some new players.
“We have to get to work quickly. Our first game against Mount Pleasant is just 106 days away, and I need to get the players to trust me and the process. First and foremost, I need to gain their respect.”
Edenfield’s collegiate career as a player began at PennWest California before finishing at Oklahoma State. He was also a standout wrestler, as he earned second and fifth-place finishes in the state tournament as a junior and senior. Edenfield played baseball for the Mustangs and was a member of Uniontown’s Senior American Legion team.
Edenfield’s father, Chris, was on staff during football and baseball seasons as an assistant, and he was the varsity head wrestling coach, as Ian competed as an independent.
Chris is currently on staff at Belle Vernon under the direction of Scott Bryer.
“I would love to have my dad here, but with it being so late in the hiring process, and the tremendous amount of respect I have for Scott Bryer, I didn’t want to take him away from their staff at Belle Vernon,” Ian Edenfield said. “Maybe my dad can coach with me down the road, but it won’t be this season. I learned so many things from him and my other coaches. We don’t play Belle Vernon this year, which is kind of unusual for us, but maybe we can get them back on schedule. They have a great team down there.”
Edenfield isn’t sure if he will help Franks coach the senior legion team, but he is on the coaching roster and will do his best to help with the program, even if it is coming to games and supporting the players.
“It’s hard to tell what I will be able to do,” Edenfield said. “I would love to work with those guys again, but I have to make sure I am on top of everything with football. We could have some 7-on-7 events on the same nights they are playing. I will still follow the action on GameChanger, even if I can’t make it to a game.”