Matt Miller has reportedly decided not to step down as the high school football coach at McKeesport in Pennsylvania. This latest development comes less than a week after he supposedly informed the district’s athletic director that he would be resigning.
It is a fluid situation that is subject to change.
There is a lot of uncertainty regarding the ongoing high school football controversy. Things should start to become more clear with definitive answers in the coming days and weeks. The clock is ticking. Summer workouts are already underway!
McKeesport needs a coaching staff.
The Tigers were one of the best high school football teams in the Keyston State last season. They reached the Class 4A state championship game at 9-4 in 2025, in large part because of five-star running back Kemon Spell, who committed to Georgia. They have not finished with less than eight wins in a single season since Miller was hired as head coach in 2016. McKeesport wins!
However, the start of the 2026 regular season is less than two months away and the coaching staff may or may not be invited back.
Multiple outlets reported that the Tigers’ football coaching staff was (and is) in danger of being dismissed. The school board tabled a vote on whether or not to renew their contracts at a meeting last week. The board did not rehire the assistants. It did not fire them.
A source close to the McKeesport Area School District told KDKA that Miller initially decided to step down from his role as a result of the non-decision in regard to his assistant coaches. That no longer appears to be the case.
Miller reportedly told the district — and the rest of his coaching staff — that he will be staying on. He intends to coach the Tigers in 2026. The board voted to retain him through next season in January. There is no new motion to relieve him of his duties.
The same is not true for his assistants. Their employment with the school remains in limbo.
Board member Matthew Holtzman called for the entire staff to resign. They did not do so.
The board is expected to call a special meeting next week to decide on the fate of the assistant coaches. Members are apparently split down the middle. Half of them are in favor of a return. The other half wants them out.
The high school football coaches are part of an NFL murder trial involving a “cult-like” church.
This controversy at McKeesport stems from a high-profile murder trial. Isaac Smith was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder for the killing of Karli Short and her unborn child. Karli is the daughter of former NFL and Penn State football player Brandon Short. Brandon was born and raised in McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
Brandon Short revealed that two men, at least one being a former teammate, testified as a character witness on behalf of Smith. The two character witnesses were/are members of the Church of Life in Christ. They are also members of the football coaching staff at McKeesport High School. One is an assistant. The other is the head of the team’s booster association.
Short, among others, claim that the Church of Life in Christ acts like a cult. It was subject to a KDKA investigation in 2016. The congregation is led by head pastor Guy Miller. Guy is the father of Matt, the head coach of the Tigers.
As a result, the entire staff has come under scrutiny. Some board members call for their immediate resignation. A vote on their status with the program will take place in the coming weeks. Short is very clear on where he stands.
“My opinion on that point is not relevant. What is relevant is the most important thing, which is whoever is in the position has the full faith of the community, and it doesn’t appear that the current coaching staff has that.”
Board president Dave Seropian says coach Miller has his full support because he has “never done anything that’s been intertwined with the church.” The president did not comment further about the coaching staff.