LATROBE, Pa. – Saint Vincent College head football coach Aaron Smetanka has announced updates to his team's coaching staff for the 2023 season.
Longtime assistant John Bell has been elevated to the role of defensive coordinator, while Richard Medeiros will return to the staff and hold the roles of tight ends coach, assistant recruiting coordinator and assistant manager of operations.
Smetanka will also welcome a number of new faces to the SVC sidelines, as Robert McElhaney will serve as manager of football operations and recruiting coordinator; Khaliq Coleman as assistant wide receivers coach; Chris Brown as running backs coach; and Jason Ross as special teams assistant.
John Bell – Defensive Coordinator
Bell has been a member of the Saint Vincent College Athletic Department since 2006, serving on both the football coaching staff and as the department's strength and conditioning coordinator.
"Coach Bell has been an important part of the Saint Vincent College football program since its rebirth in 2007," Smetanka said. "He has been the strength and conditioning coach and defensive line coach, but, more importantly, Coach Bell has been a personal coach.
"He does a great job of making true connections and relationships with the student-athletes off the field. His impact has been felt both on the field and in the everyday lives of the players he has coached. I look forward to having Coach Bell lead our defense."
The College's strength and conditioning coordinator since 2006, Bell served his first stint as defensive line coach from 2007-14, before rejoining the coaching staff in 2021. During his coaching tenure, nine of his defensive linemen have earned All-Presidents' Athletic Conference accolades. In 2021, the Bearcat defense produced 20 quarterback sacks and allowed an average of just 113.8 rushing yards per game, while last season, SVC ranked in the top half of the PAC in scoring defense and rushing defense, while recording at least 3.0 tackles for loss in every game.
Prior to joining the inaugural Saint Vincent football coaching staff, Bell has coached at Slippery Rock University (wide receivers/special teams), Lock Haven University (tackles and tight ends), Saint Joseph's College (Ind.) (defensive coordinator) and at Hampton High School in Pittsburgh's North Hills (defensive coordinator).
Along with his extensive football coaching experience, Bell has serves as a volunteer strength coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers and is a certified sports performance coach by United States Weightlifting.
Bell is a native of Erie, Pennsylvania, and holds a bachelor's degree in history from Slippery Rock University. He and his wife, Jayne, and cat, Hamish, reside in Pittsburgh.
Richard Medeiros – Tight Ends Coach/Assistant Recruiting Coordinator/Assistant Manager of Football Operations
Richard Medeiros will return for his third season on the Saint Vincent coaching staff in 2023.
He has served as the team's tight end coach during both the 2021 and '22 seasons, and will add the responsibilities of assistant recruiting coordinator and assistant manager of football operations for the 2023 campaign.
"Coach Medeiros has brought energy and excitement to not just our tight ends and offense, but to the entire team over the past two seasons," Smetanka said. "He has proven to be a good recruiter, as well. I look forward to seeing him continue to lead our tight ends and recruit talented student-athletes."
Medeiros graduated from Ferrum College with a bachelor's degree in human health and performance, with a concentration in exercise science. He also minored in coaching and was named to Ferrum's Dean's List and President's List. While at Ferrum, he was also a member of the varsity baseball team, playing first and third base.
Rob McElhaney – Manager of Football Operations and Recruiting
Rob McElhaney returns for his second stint on the Saint Vincent coaching staff, after previously working as the team's defensive line coach and academic coordinator in 2020.
"Coach McElhaney has been a great addition to the coaching staff," Smetanka said. "He has continued to help bring in good student-athletes as our recruiting coordinator, and he has brought good ideas to our day-to-day operations."
He rejoins the Bearcat staff after spending two seasons at Valdosta State University, serving as an offensive and special teams assistant in 2021 and assistant defensive line coach/special teams coach in 2022. Over the two seasons, Valdosta State went a combined 17-8, and advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championship game in 2022.
McElhaney began his coaching career while an undergraduate student at Slippery Rock University, serving as a student assistant for three years before becoming the head student assistant in 2019-20, where he worked with the offensive line and served as film coordinator and offensive quality control coordinator. He helped Slippery Rock to one Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship and two appearances in the NCAA playoffs, including a trip to the semifinals.
Khaliq Coleman – Assistant Wide Receivers Coach
Khaliq Coleman joins the Saint Vincent coaching staff after gaining four years of high school coaching experience.
"Coach Coleman has been a great addition to the coaching staff," said Smetanka. "He has brought with him great ideas from his collegiate playing days, and he has done a good job recruiting in a short period of time."
For the past two seasons, Coleman served as assistant head coach and wide receivers/defensive backs coach at Hempfield High School in Greensburg. In addition to his on-field coaching, he also was the team's recruiting coordinator, academic coordinator and social media coordinator.
From 2019-21, Coleman coached wide receivers, tight ends and defensive backs at nearby Greensburg Central Catholic High School. His 2021 squad finished 7-3 and advanced to the WPIAL playoffs, while he coached two All-Conference honorees and led a defensive secondary that recorded the second-most interceptions in Pennsylvania.
A Philadelphia native, Coleman graduated from Shippensburg University with a bachelor's degree in human communication studies, and played football collegiately at both Shippensburg and Indiana University of Pa.
Chris Brown – Running Backs Coach
A 2012 Saint Vincent College graduate, Brown was a four-year member of the Bearcat football team, playing running back from 2009-11.
"Coach Brown and I graduated together in 2012," said Smetanka. He always brought the energy and love of the game out of his teammates. Throughout his years of coaching, he has continued to get the best out of his student-athletes. He has been a great addition to our coaching staff."
Brown spent two seasons on the staff at Greensburg Central High School, working as running backs coach from 2019-20, while he most recently has worked on both the football and wrestling coaching staffs at Ringgold High School.
Jason Ross – Special Teams Assistant
A veteran coach with a plethora of experience at both the collegiate and high school levels, Jason Ross will work with the Bearcat specialists during the 2023 season.
"Coach Ross brings many years of coaching experience to our staff," said Smetanka. He will be able to fully focus on coaching the kickers, punters and long snappers. This will be very valuable in helping our special teams coordinator, Coach J.J. Eckels."
A secondary English teacher in the Hempfield School District, Ross has served as special teams coordinator for the Hempfield varsity football team, and head coach of the middle school football team, since 2012. Prior to his time at Hempfield, Ross spent six seasons on the coaching staff at Seton Hill University, working with both the defensive backs and special teamers, while he spent two seasons as the head varsity coach at Kennard-Dale High School (1998-99), one season as the wide receivers/special teams coach at Gettysburg College, three seasons as defensive coordinator at Hanover (Pa.) High School, and five seasons as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at nearby Ligonier Valley High School.
Ross holds a bachelor's degree in secondary education and a master's degree in sports administration from Penn State University.
The Bearcats are slated to kick off the 2023 campaign on Sept. 2, hosting Washington & Jefferson College at Chuck Noll Field.
