High school notebook: New Franklin Regional girls coach brings energy

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, July 30, 2018 | 7:00 PM

Anthony Kobus coached varsity football in the past, so he understands the importance of instilling toughness in his players.

That frame of mind won’t change when he takes over the girls basketball program at Franklin Regional.

Kobus was hired recently as a replacement for Courtney Callas, who resigned after three seasons.

A teacher at Penn Hills, Kobus most recently coached the Penn-Trafford boys junior varsity, from 2015-17, developing a better understanding of skill training, a staple in coach Jim Rocco’s program.

Franklin Regional last made the WPIAL playoffs two years ago but has not had a winning record in section play since 2011-12. The Panthers will remain in unchanged Section 4-5A with Armstrong, Hampton, Indiana, Kiski Area, Mars and Plum.

“There is already a solid foundation at Franklin,” Kobus said. “My staff and I have coached under some great coaches throughout the years, and we want the girls to play hard every day, get better every day, have discipline every day, and play with pride.”

Kobus, 43, was a football assistant at Penn Hills from 1995-2005 before becoming head football coach at Saltsburg in 2004.

He also served as a junior high and varsity football assistant at Franklin Regional, the former from 2007-18.

Basketball became part of the equation in 2005, when he began coaching the Riverview eighth-grade boys team for three years.

He led the seventh-grade boys team at Franklin Regional from 2007-14 before moving on to Penn-Trafford.

Kobus is a Seneca Valley graduate, where he played basketball and football, and earned degrees at Robert Morris and Cal (Pa.).

Kobus is the nephew of Riverview girls basketball coach Keith Stitt.

Hempfield girls hoops

Hempfield athletic director Greg Meisner said the district will begin interviewing candidates for its girls head basketball coaching position this week.

Lindsy Muchnock resigned after one season to take a teaching position at Mansfield High School on Ohio.

Fall ahead

With July fading into August, the WPIAL fall sports season is near. The first practice date for football, soccer, golf, cross country, girls volleyball, girls tennis and field hockey is Aug. 13. The first game dates are Aug. 16 for golf, Aug. 20 for girls tennis, and Aug. 24 for football (Week Zero), and Aug. 31 for soccer, cross country, girls volleyball and field hockey.

Bill Beckner is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Franklin Regional, Hempfield