Sunday, February 23, 2025, 1:15AM |  34°
MENU
Advertisement
West Mifflin coach Rod Steele talks to QB David Flemming at the High School Football Passing Camp at Pitt/Steelers Field on the Southside on Sunday, June 25, 2023.
1
MORE

West Mifflin School Board censures member accused of sharing football game plan

West Mifflin School Board censures member accused of sharing football game plan

The West Mifflin Area School Board on Thursday voted to censure a school director who is accused of leaking the West Mifflin football team’s game plan with an opponent.

School director Mark Yuhas was censured in an 8-1 vote. Mr. Yuhas voted against the motion.

The vote came days after he was accused of telling Elizabeth Forward coach John DeMarco of West Mifflin’s plan to use a new “Wildcat” offense in the WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal game, which took place last Friday. Elizabeth Forward won the contest, 42-21.

Advertisement

“Our students and families work their entire lives for an opportunity to compete in games that matter on a fair and level playing field that you intentionally jeopardized to further your agenda,” board president Matthew Blazevich said during the meeting. “Your conduct is appalling and unfathomable. As a representative of the remaining board members we hereby request your resignation from the West Mifflin Area School Board effective immediately and ask for an apology to our students, families, coaches and community.”

Keith Spell (of McKeesport) scores the first touchdown for the Tigers against Montour.
Keith Barnes
Keith Spell records 3 touchdowns and 5 sacks in McKeesport's Class 4A semifinals victory over Montour

Mr. Yuhas responded, “No,” which was met by boos from students, parents and community members in attendance.

Calls for Mr. Yuhas to resign and his ultimate censuring came after the school director said he attended Elizabeth Forward’s practice before being asked his identity by Elizabeth Forward’s coaches.

Both Mr. Yuhas and Elizabeth Forward’s coach, Mr. DeMarco, said there was a brief conversation. Mr. Yuhas claimed he didn’t like Mr. DeMarco’s “attitude” toward him, and Mr. Yuhas got upset.

Advertisement

“That coach was arrogant when he found out who I was. He had an attitude,” Mr. Yuhas told the Post-Gazette Saturday. “All I said was this: ‘When they run the Wildcat up your ass, I wish I could be here to see it.’ ... There was no playbook or anything like that. I mentioned the word Wildcat.”

But West Mifflin coach Rod Steele said the school director purposely leaked the district’s game plan because of a “personal vendetta” against Mr. Steele for not retaining him as an assistant coach after last season. The accusation led to a district investigation, which “appears” to prove that Mr. Yuhas purposely gave away West Mifflin’s game plan by showing a correlation between facts gathered by the district and the accusations made.

Mr. Yuhas said the investigation was “driven by politics.”

Mr. Yuhas, during Thursday’s meeting, maintained his innocence but said he “did something very stupid” by attending Elizabeth Forward’s practice.

Donald Barksdale (3), Steel Valley High School sophomore running back/linebacker runs with the ball during a game against Imani Christian Academy at the William V. Campbell Athletic Field in Munhall on Friday, September 16, 2022.
Abby Schnable
Steel Valley's Donald Barksdale does it all in WPIAL Class 2A semifinals win vs. Mohawk

“I’ve been a coach a long time, and I know I shouldn’t have stopped there,” Mr. Yuhas said. “I did. And by me stopping there, someone [recognized] me and came up. We got into a little bit of a verbal disagreement, and I was wrong. … All I said to him was I hope they run Wildcat up your ass on Friday. That’s what I said.”

But he did apologize to members of the football team in attendance, saying, “You all know me, and I am the one school board member that supports every one of our athletic programs. I show up at our programs, but to these young men down here, I apologize. I truly do. You all know I’ve always had your best interest, always did things for you, rode you home, picked you up, bought you food.”

While he spoke, calls for his resignation echoed throughout the high school auditorium. But Mr. Yuhas refused to resign, leading to angry outcries from parents.

School officials explained that there are only two ways elected board members can be removed from office: violating Pennsylvania School Code by not attending meetings or having the district attorney start the process if the official is convicted of a certain type of crime. The board does not have the power to remove a school director from their position.

But for Braeden Walker, captain of the football team, Mr. Yuhas’ actions created “absolute chaos.”

“Betrayal, as painful as it is, can also be a lesson,” Braeden said during public comment. “It teaches us to be careful, to not give our trust so easily. It shows us that not everyone has our best interest at heart. It’s a harsh lesson that’s valuable.”

First Published: November 17, 2023, 8:29 p.m.
Updated: November 18, 2023, 4:28 a.m.

RELATED
Quinton Martin, #25, of Belle Vernon leaps over Yasir Williams, #7, of Neumann Goretti, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, at Chapman Stadium in Mechanicsburg. Belle Vernon defeats Neumann Goretti 9-8 for the PIAA 3A football championship title.
Will Aldrich
3-pronged rushing attack propels Belle Vernon to dominant performance against East Allegheny
Damiano Sims, #50 and Brixx Rawl, #28 of Beaver Falls make a big third down tackle late in the fourth quarter against Steel Valley during the Class 2A WPIAL title game, Friday, Nov. 25th, 2022 at Acrisure Stadium.
From local dispatches
WPIAL Class 3A, 2A semifinals roundup: Beaver Falls headed to Acrisure Stadium for the 4th straight year
Westinghouse’s Khalil Green pushes through a tackle by University Prep’s Xair Stevenson, 9, in the City League Championship at Cupples Stadium on the South Side Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023.
From local dispatches
Westinghouse outpaces high-flying Central Clarion offense in PIAA Class 2A first-round shootout
Aliquippa's Arison Walker celebrates a touchdown with Tiqwai "Tikey" Hayes against Mars on Friday in the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals at North Allegheny. Aliquippa won 47-24 to earn a 16th consecutive trip to a WPIAL final.
Mike White
Back to Acrisure: Aliquippa earns 16th consecutive WPIAL title game appearance with win against Mars
Nick Allan (31) of Quaker Valley dribbles past Ryan Ellis (3) of South Park in the WPIAL Class 2A soccer finals on Thursday Nov. 02, 2023 at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh.
Michael Bullock
PIAA Class 2A boys soccer final: Quaker Valley comes up short in overtime defeat to Camp Hill
West Mifflin’s Armand Hill looks to take a handoff from Ojuan Owens, Friday, Nov. 10th, 2023, at Elizabeth Forward High School.
Mike White
West Mifflin letter: Investigation 'appears' to 'correlate' with game plan-leak accusations against board member
West Mifflin coach Rod Steele discuses a play call with quarterback Ojuan Owens in Friday's loss to Elizabeth Forward. A West Mifflin school board member is accused of leaking West Mifflin's offensive game plan to Elizabeth Forward.
Mike White
West Mifflin school board member accused of sharing game plan with football playoff opponent
SHOW COMMENTS (30)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
Leah Fauth gets a hug after leaving flowers in front of the West York Police Department after a police officer was killed responding to a shooting Saturday at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, Pa.
1
news
Police officer killed, gunman dead in shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York
The University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning
2
business
Amid funding uncertainty, Pitt pauses doctoral admissions
Elon Musk told federal workers Saturday that they must respond to an email by summarizing their accomplishments for the week, repeating a tactic he used to cull the workforce at his social media company.
3
news
Elon Musk gives all federal workers 48 hours to explain what they did last week
Pirates outfielder DJ Stewart gets congratulations from teammates after his home run against the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of the Grapefruit League season at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla., on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025.
4
sports
5 takeaways from Pirates' spring training victory over Orioles
Mike Lange’s family, coworkers, and friends stand on the ice during a memorial celebration of Lange’s career and life at the PPG Paints Arena before the Penguins take on the Washington Capitols on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. Mike passed away on the 19th and was a beloved play-by-play announcer for the Pittsburgh Penguins for 46 years.
5
sports
Jason Mackey: Penguins hit all the right notes in honoring icon Mike Lange
West Mifflin coach Rod Steele talks to QB David Flemming at the High School Football Passing Camp at Pitt/Steelers Field on the Southside on Sunday, June 25, 2023.
Advertisement
LATEST sports
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story