New UTEP football coach Sean Kugler went to his son's team for his first recruit.

Mack Leftwich, a star senior quarterback at North Allegheny High School and a teammate of Kugler's son, Pat, made a verbal commitment to UTEP Tuesday night when Sean Kugler offered a scholarship. Kugler, who is a Steelers offensive line coach, was officially hired Monday as UTEP's coach.

Leftwich made a verbal commitment earlier this fall to Stephen F. Austin, an NCAA Division I-AA school in Texas. But UTEP is Division I-A and when Kugler offered a scholarship, Leftwich accepted immediately. Leftwich has thrown for more than 3,000 yards this season and helped North Allegheny reach the PIAA Class AAAA championship Saturday at HersheyPark Stadium.

"I'm going to get a chance to play Division I football, which has been a dream of mine my whole life," Leftwich said. "Coach Kugler has a lot of confidence in me and one of the first things he did as a coach was offer me a scholarship. That really says something."

Pat Kugler is a standout lineman at North Allegheny, but he has said he will not be playing for his father at UTEP. Pat Kugler made a verbal commitment to the University of Michigan in his junior year and is sticking with the Wolverines.

First Published: December 13, 2012, 5:00 a.m.