Category: Sports

Steelers hire former Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham to the same position

(Credit for Photo: Courtesy of John McCoy/ Associated Press: Caption for Photo: Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham spoke with the media following practice at NFL football training camp on July 25th, 2024, in Costa Mesa, California.)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Friday afternoon that former Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has been hired by the Steelers for the same position to work on the staff of Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy. Graham spent the past four seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Raiders and arrived in Pittsburgh late last week for an in-person interview. Graham has also worked with McCarthy before, as he was the linebackers coach and run game coordinator for the Green Bay Packers during the final season that McCarthy was the head coach for the Packers in 2018. 

Ohio State University hires former Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to the same position

(File Photo: Source for Photo: (File Photo: Source for Photo: Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is pictured before a preseason NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/ Gene J. Puskar, File)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State hired Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator Saturday, the second straight year coach Ryan Day has turned to a coordinator with extensive NFL experience.

Smith was the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive coordinator the past two seasons after being the Atlanta Falcons head coach from 2021 through ’23.

“He will bring immediate value to our program and was exactly what we were looking for as we set out to find our next offensive coordinator,” Day said in a statement. “His track record in the NFL, experience as coordinator, player caller and a head coach checked every box during the search. He’ll do a great job in helping our players reach their potential on the field while also connecting with them as people.”

Smith replaces Brian Hartline, who was hired as South Florida’s head coach after eight seasons in Columbus.

The 43-year old Smith has not been on a college staff since he was a defensive intern at Ole Miss in 2010.

Smith also interviewed for the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans head coach openings as well as the Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator position. He was on the Titans staff from 2011 through ’20. rising from a quality control coach to offensive coordinator his last two years. He began his NFL coaching career as a quality control coach in Washington in 2007.

He is the only offensive coordinator/head coach in the NFL to have seven different running backs with at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage in that past seven years — Derrick Henry at Tennessee, Cordarrelle Patterson, Tyler Allgeier and Bijan Robinson at Atlanta, and Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell with the Steelers.

Smith has also coached quarterbacks Ryan Tannehill, Matt Ryan, Marcus Mariotta, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers.

Day is hoping Smith’s hire goes as well as his selection of Matt Patricia as defensive coordinator last year. The Buckeyes had the nation’s top-ranked defense and allowed only 8.2 points per game.

Ohio State was 18th in the nation in scoring offense and 24th in total offense in 2025. Heisman finalist Julian Sayin will be returning at quarterback as as dynamic wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, an AP All-America selection the past two years.

Mantha and Acciari score twice, Penguins running winning streak to 6 by holding off the Rangers 6-5

 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Penguins’ Anthony Mantha, center, celebrates in the second period with Evgeni Malkin, left, and Sidney Crosby, right, after his second goal of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Anthony Mantha and Noel Acciari scored two goals apiece, and the surging Pittsburgh Penguins held off the New York Rangers 6-5 on Saturday for their sixth straight victory.

Mantha and Acciari beat Jonathan Quick twice in a span of just over three minutes early in the first period to give the Penguins an early cushion. Mantha made it 3-0 with an easy tap-in in the second period. Acciari and Rickard Rakell scored 20 seconds apart early in the third to push Pittsburgh’s advantage to 5-1 on a night the franchise celebrated the 10th anniversary of the 2016 club that won the Stanley Cup.

Erik Karlsson became the 12th defenseman in NHL history to reach 700 career assists when he picked up the secondary helper on Rakell’s 10th goal of the season 1:20 into the final period. The other 11 defensemen to reach the 700-assist plateau are in the Hall of Fame.

Stuart Skinner improved to 8-1 in his last nine starts but nearly let a four-goal third period get away.

Alex Lafreniere scored twice for the Rangers. Vincent Trocheck, Vladislav Gavrikov and Will Cuylle all scored during a late rally, but it wasn’t enough for the Rangers to fall to 2-10 since goaltender Igor Shesterkin was lost indefinitely with a lower-body injury.

Until the late surge, New York coach Mike Sullivan — who guided the Penguins to consecutive Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017 during a decade-long run as head coach before trading Pittsburgh for New York last summer — watched his team spend most of the afternoon putting up little fight against the surprising Penguins.

Pittsburgh moved into second place by itself in the Metropolitan Division with the victory despite being without veteran defenseman Kris Letang, who will miss at least a month with a fractured left foot sustained in a win over Chicago on Thursday. The 20-year veteran was wearing a protective boot on the foot during a pregame ceremony honoring the 2016 club.

Up next

Rangers: Off until Thursday night, when they host Carolina in the final game before the Olympic break.

Penguins: Host Ottawa on Monday night.

 

NASCAR delays preseason race at Bowman Gray Stadium to Monday

Daniel Suarez (99), left, edges out Kyle Busch (8), center, and Ryan Blaney (12) at the finish line to win during the NASCAR auto race at Atlanta Motor Speedway Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Hampton, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR has postponed the preseason exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium until Monday night because of ice and snow blanketing the Winston-Salem area.

The Clash was supposed to be a two-day event beginning Saturday, with the main event held Sunday evening. NASCAR late last week cut it to a Sunday-only event in anticipation of poor weather, and as snow blanketed the Carolinas on Saturday, NASCAR made the call to run the race Monday.

“Nothing matters more than the safety of our fans, even when the weather doesn’t cooperate,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR executive vice president and chief venue & racing innovations officer. “We were ready to fight the weather, and appreciate the collaboration with Winston-Salem and N.C. officials to make the best decision. Our operations team is hard at work for a Monday race.”

The roads around Winston-Salem had not yet totally been cleared from last weekend’s ice storm and then more snow arrived Saturday morning. Forecasts call for as much as 12 inches.

NASCAR said parking lots for fans will open at 9 a.m. Monday, with practice and qualifying scheduled for 11 a.m.

Former Director of Western Pennsylvania Youth Football League Charged with Embezzling $230K to Personal Accounts

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) According to a release in Harrisburg today from Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday’s office, Sunday announced that the former director of a southwestern Pennsylvania youth football league is charged with diverting nearly a quarter-of-a-million dollars in league assets to personal accounts. Fifty-seven-year-old William Spencer was the director of the Washington/Greene Youth Football League, now known as the Western Pennsylvania Youth Football League (WPYFL), from 2013 until he resigned in March of 2025. Spencer diverted league funds to his accounts to bolster a retirement account, fund credit cards and make various purchases at Amazon, restaurants, and other retailers during that time. Spencer is not in custody, but the Office of Attorney General’s Financial Crimes Section charged him this week with felony and misdemeanor counts of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, and two misdemeanor counts of misapplication of entrusted property. Spencer fraudulently wrote 187 checks payable to himself in total from WPYFL’s accounts, which totaled about $230,000, from January 4th, 2020, through February 18th, 2025. Spencer also made direct payments totaling over $3,000 from WPYFL’s accounts to accounts in his and/or his wife’s name, without the knowledge or consent of WPYFL.

Pitt football making changes to seating at its football games at Acrisure Stadium

(File Photo: Source for Photo: People stand on the field in Acrisure Stadium before an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle Seahawks in Pittsburgh, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pitt is making major changes to seating at its football games at Acrisure Stadium. Pitt will close off the upper east and west sides of the stadium and reduce the capacity to 51,416 seats for the 2026 season. Pitt athletic director Allen Greene stated that the decision was in response to feedback from fans who want “a better home field advantage” and this will improve the experience for fans by “transforming Pitt football into a must-attend event.” Pitt will also reevaluate all season ticket holders for 2027. The capacity for Pitt students will remain at 10,000 seats each game.

Penguins have 4-goal 2nd period to rout Blackhawks 6-2 for 5th straight win

 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea (5) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Egor Chinakhov and Anthony Mantha scored on rushes in a 31-second span in Pittsburgh’s four-goal second period, helping the Penguins beat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-2 on Thursday night for their fifth straight victory.

Connor Dewar scored twice, Ben Kindel and Ryan Shea added goals, and Arturs Silovs made 17 saves. Mantha, Shea and Noel Acciari each had two assists.

The Penguins had been off since sweeping a four-game trip with a victory over Vancouver on Sunday, with forward Bryan Rust starting a three-game suspension for a check to Canucks forward Brock Boeser’s head.

Connor Murphy and Connor Bedard scored for Chicago, and Soderblom stopped 38 shots in the first game of a back-to-back. The Blackhawks have lost four straight, falling 4-3 in a shootout in Minnesota on Tuesday night.

Kindel gave Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead at 5:54 of the second period. He came down the left side and beat Soderblom to the far side with a wrister.

Chinakhov slipped a shots between Arvid Soderblom’s leg pads with 4:30 left in the period, and Mantha also beat Soderblom through the legs with 3:59 to go. Shea capped the spree with 30 seconds left in the period, and Dewar added his second of the night with 6:01 left in the third.

Bedard fired a wrist shot past Silovs with 5:21 to go for his 21st of the season.

Murphy opened the scoring for Chicago at 9:32 of the first. Dewar tied it 1:52 later.

Penguins forward Rutger McGroarty was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League for his NHL game since sustaining a concussion in practice Jan. 6. He had five shots, three hits and a block in 10:36.

Up next

Blackhawks: Host Columbus on Friday night.

Penguins: Host the New York Rangers on Saturday.

 

Clendon Thomas, former Pro-Bowl defensive back for the Steelers, dies at 90

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Former Oklahoma halfback Clendon Thomas speaks during a news conference in New York, Dec. 6, 2011. (AP Phot/ Seth Wenig, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Tulsa, OK) Clendon Thomas, a former Pro-Bowl defensive back for the Pittsburgh Steelers has died at the age of 90. Chuck Bowman, a longtime friend and a former college roommate of Thomas, confirmed on Tuesday that Thomas died of pneumonia on Monday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Thomas was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round of the 1958 NFL Draft. Thomas was traded to the Steelers in 1962 and played for them from 1962-1968. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1963. Thomas was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011 and played for the University of Oklahoma from 1955-1957, helping the Sooners win back-to-back national championships in 1955 and 1956.

Three Pittsburgh-area athletes among five Pennsylvanians selected to compete for the U.S. in 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy

(Credit for Photo: LAKE PLACID, NEW YORK – MARCH 14: Kaysha Love and Jasmine Jones of the United States compete during the two-woman Bobsleigh heat 1 on day five of the 2025 IBSF World Championships at Mt Van Hoevenberg on March 14, 2025 in Lake Placid, New York. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Several athletes who are Pittsburgh–area natives have been selected to compete for the United States in the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games in Italy from February 6th to February 22nd. Jasmine Jones of Greensburg was selected for the two-woman bobsled team. Jones has earned five medals during International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation competitions throughout her career. Vincent Trocheck, a Pittsburgh native who plays hockey for the NHL’s New York Rangers and played youth hockey with the Pittsburgh Hornets, was named to the United States men’s hockey team, who are aiming to win their first gold medal since 1980. Trochek is in his 13th season with the Rangers, whose head coach is former Pittsburgh Penguins head coach, Mike Sullivan. Ava McNaughton of Seven Fields, who is a junior at the University of Wisconsin, was selected for the United States women’s hockey team. McNaughton played youth hockey in the area of Pittsburgh, skating with the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite Girls Team and the Arctic Foxes boys team. Two other Pennsylvanians have been selected for Team USA. Taylor Anderson of Broomall, Pennsylvania will compete in curling for the United States and Summer Britcher of Glen Rock, Pennsylvania will be a representative for Team USA in the luge.

Geneva College hires Tom Contenta as their next college football head coach

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Geneva College Athletics, Posted on January 28th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver Falls, PA) Geneva College Athletics announced on Facebook yesterday that Geneva College hired a new college football head coach. Tom Contenta was recently hired by the Golden Tornadoes following a national search and he will become the 30th head football coach in the history of the school located in Beaver Falls. Contenta has served on the Geneva football coaching staff since 2007 and also played for the Golden Tornadoes from 2002-05. Contenta will become just the third Geneva head football coach since 1976. Contenta will replace Geno Demarco, who stepped down after his 33rd season as the head Geneva College football coach, which helped DeMarco become the longest tenured college football coach at any level. Contenta has served as the assistant head coach for the football program next to DeMarco for the last several seasons. Contenta spent time as both the offensive and defensive coordinator for the Golden Tornadoes, and he has also served as the recruiting coordinator for Geneva College for many years.