Kyle Haas didn’t have any intention of leaving Northampton’s football program for Bethlehem Catholic. Haas had built his own program, with his own coaches and developed a culture that turned around a struggling football program into a 19-10 record over a three year span during his tenure with the K-Kids.

But being an assistant at Becahi from 2011-15 and then serving as interim coach in 2016, left Haas with plenty of memories and connections. One of those connections was from an alumni, who reached out to Haas about possibly returning when former head coach Joe Henrich resigned last month.

That conversation opened the door for Haas speaking with athletic director Chris Domyan to spark his interest. Still, it took convincing and ultimately the taste of the state playoffs in 2016, the Catholic school culture and the ability to become a teacher again led Haas to return to Becahi, as the school officially announced his hiring on Wednesday morning.

“It’s been a hectic 24 hours,” Haas said Wednesday, Jan. 6. “Bethlehem Catholic gave me an opportunity and I compared it with my situation at Northampton and felt it was the best decision for my family and for myself professionally. I just couldn’t turn it down.”

He also couldn’t turn away from the competitive allure that Becahi historically presents.

When Henrich took a leave of absence in 2016, Haas stepped in and led the team to an 11-4 mark, winning the District 11 4A championship and reaching the PIAA semifinals before falling to state power Imhotep Charter 24-13.

That taste of the state tournament has never left Haas, nor has that loss to Imhotep.

“That game still bugs me,” he said. “We just wanted to put our best foot forward and try to not get embarrassed and there we were with under five minutes left in an 18-13 game with the ball. When you get a taste of the state tournament, it never goes away.”

Walking away from Northampton was a difficult decision in itself, primarily because of the building process that took place, but also because of the support from the administration, players and parents.

“I was spoiled because everyone there was so hungry for success,” said Haas. “The players and parents bought in and did everything we needed from them. We had so much support and it truly was a great experience. I think whoever takes over is going to find themselves in a great situation because they have a lot of talent coming up and these kids have learned how to win.”

Becahi athletic director Chris Domyan remembered what Haas accomplished in 2016 with a team that wasn’t peppered with preseason accolades.

“It is a blessing to have coach Haas return to Bethlehem Catholic and lead our football program,” Domyan said in a release. “In 2016, as interim head coach, he electrified the football team and our entire school community with one of the best seasons in recent history. He is a passionate and inspiring leader who will connect with the players immediately.”

That will start on Monday, Jan. 11 for Haas, when Becahi opens its offseason weight lifting program. Haas plans to speak to the players and lay some initial groundwork for a program that is looking to bounce back from a 4-4 fall campaign that saw them lose to Central Catholic in the District 11 postseason.

“We’re going to have to develop that relationship with the players,” said Haas. “I’ll be bringing four coaches from Northampton and looking to retain a few coaches from the Becahi staff, so there’s going to be a learning curve for all of us.”

One thing that everyone understands are the expectations at a program like Bethlehem Catholic, which is something that Haas relishes.

“I love to play in big games and playing in the EPC South makes things exciting,” he said, “but I think there is some unfinished business on my end after reaching states in 2016, because it’s a realization for this program to be competing in states and when you get that close, you want it even more.”