Title-Winning WPIAL Football Coach Hired at Bishop Canevin

A big coaching shake-up has taken place at the high school level with WPIAL and state champion football coach Rod Steele taking over as the new head coach at Bishop Canevin.

Bishop Canevin announced the hiring of Steele, who has 28 years of experience as a head coach or assistant, on Thursday. He becomes the eighth head coach in Bishop Canevin history.

Steele spent the last six seasons at West Mifflin. Prior to that, he was at Steel Valley for nine years as he won a WPIAL and PIAA title in 2016 and added another district championship in 2018.

Rod Steele named the new head football coach at Bishop Canevin. Takes over for Rich Johnson, who resigned last month. Steele spent the past six seasons at West Mifflin. Won two WPIAL titles and a PIAA title at Steel Valley. pic.twitter.com/z4OdbHtLeZ

— Brad Everett (@BREAL412) June 5, 2025

The 2016 Ironmen, led by Pitt recruit Paris Ford and additional future D-I players DeWayne Murray and Todd Hill, became the first PIAA team to win every game by mercy rule since the the rule was adopted in 1998.

While Steele, who owns a career record of 101-62, led West Mifflin to three playoff berths in six seasons, the school opened the head coaching job to other applicants after last season.

Steele takes over a Bishop Canevin program that saw head coach Rich Johnson resign after five seasons with the team. Johnson finished with a 49-12 record and won a WPIAL title in 2021.

The Crusaders are one of the top teams in the WPIAL 1-A classification after going 9-3 last season and reaching the semifinals for the fourth year in a row.

Bishop Canevin is a team with plenty of talent up and down the roster. Rising senior wide receiver/defensive back Damar Olds and running back/defensive back Myontae Mott are a pair of top skill players expected back.

2027 offensive lineman Charles Butler holds Division I offers from Akron, Toledo and Sacramento State, while 2028 wide receiver/defensive back received an offer from Akron.

Bishop Canevin is set to open the 2025 campaign against Seton-LaSalle on August 30 at Dormont Memorial Stadium.