Dan Mason credits the Penn Hills football program for steering his life in the right direction. The Indians’ newly minted interim football coach would like to try and put others on the same path.
Once Charles Morris resigned this summer after four seasons, Mason stepped up to take over.
“I humbly took this position,” Mason said. “This team has a lot of history and legacy behind it. This isn’t something I did lightly. I felt God led me to it to lead this team and this community. We want this to be a brotherhood. We want the brotherhood to tighten as we get closer to the season. We can’t worry about what is going on around us, what people are saying about us or where we are projected to finish. We are playing together to build chemistry.”
Mason played collegiately at Pitt after a high school career at Penn Hills. He said he ended up coming back to Penn Hills as an assistant coach in 2019.
Penn Hills athletic director James Eckels enjoys the energy that Mason brings to the program.
“He’s been at Penn Hills since he played,” Eckels said. “His area code never changed. Dan played for coach (Neil) Gordon and coached with coach (Ron) Graham, coach (John) Peterman and coached with (Jon) LeDonne. He’s one of the most selfless people I’ve met. I’ve played against him, so I know what kind of competitor he is. He’s the right guy to bring the community together.”
The Indians were plagued by injuries last season. Penn Hills lost its first three games and finished 3-7 overall and 2-3 in the Northeast Conference.
Despite disappointing results, the Indians had an opportunity to make the playoffs with a win over Plum in the season finale. However, the Mustangs shocked Penn Hills with a walk-off touchdown, winning 20-14 after Plum kicker Austin Kolankowski returned his own blocked field goal for a score.
Mason said that he wants to try and keep people in the community. Penn Hills has seen a number of players transfer in and out of the program over several years.
The player who was set to be the Indians’ top returner, West Virginia commit Carter Bonner, transferred to Saint Frances (Md.) Academy after playing two seasons at Penn Hills.
“I got tired of people coming in and out,” Mason said. “I wanted to step up and do what I can for the program. I wanted to step in and give it consistency. I want to do right for the kids and the families in the community. I really want to bring the community together. Football is a powerful vehicle of change, and I want to give it a positive outlook.”
Penn Hills also has two competing youth football leagues in the community. Eckels said he feels Mason can find room for everyone who wants to play.
“Dan is an effective communicator,” Eckels said. “There are multiple midget league programs in Penn Hills, and they are both beneficial to the community. (Dan) sees the good in everything. He knows how to utilize things to his advantage.”
Penn Hills will see a shakeup in conference opponents this season. Shaler dropped to Class 4A, and Fox Chapel moved to a different conference in Class 5A.
The Indians will be in a conference with Armstrong, Moon, North Hills, Pine-Richland and Plum.
Mason is excited for when fall rolls around.
“We want to make football fun again,” Mason said. “It has its tough moments. You have to train and prepare. But at the end of the day, it’s a game.”