For the better part of 40 years, Rich Niedbala made a noble mark on Beaver County athletics, most notably as
one of the top football coaches in the WPIAL. A three sport star at
Beaver Falls High School, Rich capped his scholastic career by being
named a Wigwam All American quarterback in 1959. He also won All
Star honors for two years in basketball. Rich matriculated at the
University of Miami in Florida, but in the spring of his
sophomore year a broken leg played havoc with his playing time. He
did, however, play backup to All American quarterback George Mira
with the Hurricanes. Following graduation, Rich assisted at Beaver
for six seasons and was named head coach of the Western Beaver
program in 1971. In his 27 years on the job, Western compiled a 172-112-4 record. His Golden Beavers have won WPIAL
championships in all three decades he has coached (1976, 1983, and
1994), and he is just one of five coaches in Beaver County history
who can lay claim to at least three district coaching titles, the
others being
Don Yannessa,
Joe Hamilton,
Pat Tarquinio, and
Carl Aschman. In addition, Rich
took four other squads to the WPIAL
championship and his 1994 team played for the Class A PIAA state
title. The honors have been many for his coaching expertise: Rich
was recognized as Section Coach of the Year eight times, was invited to coach in the Big 33 and Penn-Ohio All Star Games,
and
was named Coach of the Year twice in the Midwestern Conference. Rich
has also coached the Golden Beaver baseball team for 20 years and
served as the school’s athletic director for more than fifteen
years.
For the better part of 40 years, Rich Niedbala made a noble mark on Beaver County athletics, most notably as
one of the top football coaches in the WPIAL. A three sport star at
Beaver Falls High School, Rich capped his scholastic career by being
named a Wigwam All American quarterback in 1959. He also won All
Star honors for two years in basketball. Rich matriculated at the
University of Miami in Florida, but in the spring of his
sophomore year a broken leg played havoc with his playing time. He
did, however, play backup to All American quarterback George Mira
with the Hurricanes. Following graduation, Rich assisted at Beaver
for six seasons and was named head coach of the Western Beaver
program in 1971. In his 27 years on the job, Western compiled a 172-112-4 record. His Golden Beavers have won WPIAL
championships in all three decades he has coached (1976, 1983, and
1994), and he is just one of five coaches in Beaver County history
who can lay claim to at least three district coaching titles, the
others being