WPIAL Coaching Changes: New Castle Football and Shenango Girls Volleyball

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, March 14, 2012 | 4:53 PM

Embattled New Castle football coach Frank Bongivengo has stepped down from his position, effective immediately. Bongivengo is facing criminal theft charges related to funds taken from a youth football program.

Those charges were filed after a 17-month investigation from the Pennsylvania State Police, the coach and his wife Karen, were both charged with theft, conspiracy and forgery charges, relating to over 36 hundred dollars taken from the youth football program’s account. Investigators looked at transactions between that account and the Bongivengo’s personal account.

Bogivengo served as head coach from 2005 thru last season, he went 39-32 over that time, playing in the Parkway Conference and took the Red Hurricanes to three playoff appearances and a winning overall record in each of the last five season.

The New Castle school board accepted the resignation late Monday night. A search will begin to replace Bongivengo, first inside the district and then around the region.

Also, in Lawrence County, Shenango girls volleyball coach Kevin Hummert was dismissed by the school board this week. Hummert had resigned his post last season, but was asked to come back when numerous players and parents spoke before the board in his behalf.
Parental pressure likely led to Hummert’s dismissal this time, the vote was 8-1 in favor. Hummert had run afowl of the Shenango administration and school board with several complaints about his coaching style. But over his five seasons, Hummert turned the Wildcat program into a section contender, Shenango shared the section title with Laurel in 2010 and won the first playoff game in school history over North Catholic.

The Wildcats finished second in the section in 2011 with a 14-6 overall record, falling to North Catholic in the opening round of the playoffs.