Mars set to hire Zachary Benedek as next football head coach, replacing Eric Kasperowicz
Mars is expected to name Zachary Benedek its next head football coach.
The school board is set to meet Tuesday, March 3, and the agenda lists two pending hires for the football and boys soccer head coaching positions. Joseph Haefner is listed as the boys soccer hire.
Benedek, a 2019 Elizabeth Forward graduate, played quarterback collegiately at Saint Francis University and Clarion University. Benedek has also served as a graduate assistant coach at Clarion University and as an assistant coach at Mt. Lebanon.
Benedek’s likely hire ends a nearly two-month search after former coach Eric Kasperowicz stepped down to take over his alma mater at North Hills, where he has taught gifted education for 27 years and led the football team as a quarterback in the 1990s.
Kasperowicz took over for the Planets in 2022 and posted a 30-17 record with the team. He also reached the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals twice.
Mars athletic director Zach Matusak did not comment on the pending hires. While on the agenda, school boards must still approve any candidate brought forward by the AD.
According to the board agenda, Benedek will make $9,575 as head coach.
