Former football assistant Dale Smith returns to New Hope-Solebury as head coach

Dale Smith applied for the New Hope-Solebury football coaching job when Jim DiTulio resigned after the 2020 season but didn’t get it.

Four years later, Smith became the Lions’ football coach when he was confirmed at Thursday night’s New Hope-Solebury School Board meeting.

Smith, 46, was DiTulio’s run game coordinator for the final six (2015-20) of DiTulio’s 14 years as the school’s first football coach. After spending 2021 as Lower Moreland’s offensive coordinator and 2022-24 as Wissahickon’s run game coordinator, Smith is looking forward to his new gig at a familiar place.

“I am excited to be returning to New Hope,” said Smith on Friday. “I always loved it.”

New Hope-Solebury assistant coach Dale Smith and the Lions during a 2015 win over Jenkintown.

New Hope athletic director PJ Scarpello said Smith’s “passion and desire to coach here” stood out during the interview process.

“He impressed the committee with his focus on developing all of our football players to be the best student-athletes they can be,” Scarpello said. “Dale comes off as a genuine soul that wants to do good by everyone.”

A 1997 Reading High graduate, Smith played college football at Division III Delaware Valley (offensive line) and also was an assistant at Great Valley, North Catholic, Archbishop Carroll and Pottstown during his 23-year high school coaching career.

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Smith replaces Ian Bell, who didn’t return after a 2-9 season in which the Lions lost to Bristol 36-0 in the District One Class 2A championship game (there are only two AA football-playing schools in the district).

“With me, what you see is what you get,” said Smith, a special education teacher at Lower Moreland and a Doylestown Township resident. “I’m very passionate about the…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/former-football-assistant-dale-smith-222222338.html

Author : Bucks County Courier Times

Publish date : 2025-02-28 22:22:00

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