Note: this page is still under development.

19U Girls - Caitlin Dee

18U Midget Todd Mendenhall

16U Midget 2009 - Clay Shell

The SPGH 2009 Birth Year Team coaching staff for the 2024-2025 PAHL season.

Clay and Dave have been coaching for more than 20 years and have numerous awards and championships in PAHL and PIHL hockey.

Clay Shell, USA Hockey Level 5 - Master Coach

Dave Barnes, USA Hockey Level 4 - Advanced Coach

Kyle Martin, USA Hockey Level 3

15U Midget 2010 - Sean Coyle

This will be Sean's 11th year coaching at South Pittsburgh and is currently the head coach of the 2022-2023 South Pittsburgh 2010 team. The team captured the PAHL Squirt AA Championship team in 2020-2021. He is a USA Hockey level 4 certified coach, and his coaching resume includes Mites to Bantam AA. He has assisted and developed many players to both the AA and the Tier 1 AAA level.

Sean played amateur hockey in the Pittsburgh area, including playing for the perennial champion Bishop Canevin Crusaders of the PIHL. He is currently a South Pittsburgh board member and serves as president for the third year during the 2024-2025 season. Sean also served as South Pittsburgh's Mite Coordinator for 2 seasons. He is a licensed physical therapist and brings his knowledge of kinesiology and sports medicine to the organization for off ice programs.

16U Midget - Tom Schad

Tom Schad has been part of the Pittsburgh hockey community for years, currently playing as a defenseman with the Pittsburgh Warriors veterans team since 2021. His coaching career began in the 2022–23 season with the Mt. Lebanon Hornets and Trinity Middle School team as an assistant, followed by a year with the South Pittsburgh Rebellion 14U Nelson team in 2023–24. For the 2024–25 season, he steped into his first head coach role with Rebellion and will serve again as a head coach at the 16U level. He holds a USA Hockey Level 4 Coaching Certification and brings a calm, team-first approach to the bench—focused on developing players and creating a positive, competitive environment.

Off the ice, Coach Schad works as a land surveyor with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is a former U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant. His coaching philosophy centers on the belief that every player brings something valuable to the team. He's passionate about helping young athletes grow through teamwork, discipline, and love for the game. When he's not at the rink, he enjoys biking the Montour Trail and staying involved with the veteran community through hockey.

14U Bantam 2011 - Tim Creahan

Tim Creahan is entering his 8th year of coaching with the South Pittsburgh Rebellion and his 6th year as head coach of the 2011 Birth Year Team. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at the Mite level for the Southpointe Rink Rats in 2018. Tim is actively involved in the South Fayette Township hockey program, having served as an assistant coach for the Jr. Lions development program at all levels and is currently coaching with the South Fayette Middle School team. Coach Creahan has also been a head coach for various soccer teams, having previously served on the board at in the South Fayette Soccer Association. Additionally he has been an assistant coach for several baseball teams within the SFBSA for both his son and daughter.

This past season, Coach Creahan led the 2011 Birth Year team to a PAHL playoff championship in the Bantam AA Minor division, making it back to back titles for the 2011 Rebe11ion Team. Additionally, as an assistant coach, Tim helped the Squirt B Team to a season-ending championship at the Rebellion in 2024.

This year Tim is also serving as an assistant coach on our 12U Girls Team and our 14U Girls Team at the Rebellion. Originally from Buffalo, NY, Tim played amateur hockey for the Amherst Knights. He continues to play hockey and is passionate about coaching and helping all of his players reach their full potential.

14U Bantam 2012 - Klete Kutrovac

Klete Kutrovac brings extensive coaching experience to his role, currently in his 8th season at the South Pittsburgh Rebellion and his 6th season as head coach. Holding a Level 4 USA Hockey coach certification, Coach Kutrovac's dedication to hockey is rooted in his upbringing in Wheeling, WV, where he played for the Wheeling Area Hockey Association throughout high school.

His coaching philosophy centers on structured and challenging training sessions, emphasizing repetition to facilitate skill development. Beyond the game itself, Coach Kutrovac finds fulfillment in witnessing the enjoyment and growth of youth hockey players, underscoring the importance of imparting valuable life lessons through sports.

In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Coach Kutrovac contributes as a board member for the Rebellion, assuming the role of Director of Player Development.

14U Bantam 2012 - Anthony Santaguida

This coming season will be Anthony's seventh coaching with the South Pittsburgh Hockey Club. Anthony will be a USA Hockey level 5 certified coach this year. He has multiple kids playing at various ages across the Rebellion! Anthony grew up playing hockey in Mount Lebanon while also participating in several other sports at a competitive level (important for all of your young athletes!).

As a coach, Anthony focuses on creating a positive and inclusive atmosphere for every player on the team. His objective is to maximize skill development for all players and for them to love coming to the rink each day! Coach Anthony utilizes fast-paced, fun, and challenging practices to achieve those goals. He also ensures that each player develops a broad understanding of the entire game by exposing them to as many elements and situations as possible throughout the season.

In addition to hockey, Anthony coaches 8U girl's soccer for Peter's township. Anthony is a South Pittsburgh Hockey Club board member serving as the organization's treasurer for the third straight year.

 

14U Bantam - Jim Pelino

 

14U Bantam - Ryan Cummings

Ryan Cummings is a Level 4 hockey coach and will be entering his fifth year coaching for the Rebellion organization. He previously served as an assistant coach for the Canon-Mac Middle School Blue Team for one season and assisted with the developmental program for two years. In addition to his hockey credentials, Ryan is also a US Sailing instructor, demonstrating his deep commitment to teaching and guiding young athletes in competitive environments.

 

14U Bantam - Frank Pietropaolo

14U Girls - Tom Scherr

Tom Scherr grew up playing hockey for the Morgantown Blades of the PAHL before playing club hockey at Lehigh University. This will be Tom’s tenth season coaching in the PAHL and his second year coaching with the South Pittsburgh Rebellion. He also spent two years coaching at the middle school level for Bishop Canevin.

Tom holds his Level 4 USA Hockey coaching certification as well as the bronze goalie coaching certification.

As a coach, Tom focuses on building a positive environment for girls to learn and grow together, both as players and as individuals. His objective is to maximize individual skill development, team skill development, and fun. He achieves this through station-based practices that appropriately mix skill acquisition drills and small area games. This approach is reinforced in games through positive feedback and support.

 

12U Pee Wee 2013 - Zach Gray

Zach Gray returns as Head Coach of the 12U AA South Pittsburgh Rebellion 2013 Birth Year Team for his fourth season. He is entering his sixth season as a head coach within the South Pittsburgh Rebellion and Southpointe Rink Rats programs and will also serve as an assistant coach on the 10U 2016 Birth Year Team this season.

Zach is a USA Hockey Level 4 certified coach with a strong focus on player development and long-term growth. He played AA hockey through 14U and went on to compete in four seasons of varsity hockey, earning PIHL All-Star honors twice. After his playing career, he transitioned into officiating and is now in his 20th season as a USA Hockey-certified referee. He holds a Level 4 officiating certification and has worked high-level games including ACHA Division 1, PIHL Varsity, and Tier 1 and Tier 2 youth hockey up to 18U. His notable assignments have included the 2013 USA Hockey Tier 1 National Championships, 2014 PIHL State Championships, multiple PIHL Penguin Cup Finals, and USA Hockey State and Mid-Am District Playoffs in PA, OH, WV, and NY.

Additionally, Zach serves as Director of the Canon-McMillan Developmental Program, helping young players build a strong foundation and passion for the game. He previously served three seasons as Assistant Coordinator of SPHC’s 8U Program and is currently in his third term as an elected member of the South Pittsburgh Hockey Club Board of Directors. In his board role, he manages all ice scheduling and referee assignments for the organization.

12U Pee Wee 2014 - Matt Harmon

Matt Harmon has been named as Mite Coordinator for the 2021-22 season. This upcoming season will mark the 16th team that Matt has coached as either a Head Coach or Assistant Coach with multiple youth programs. Most recently he served as an Assistant Coach for the 2020-2021 PAHL Champion 2010 Birth Year Squirt AA Team supporting Sean Coyle. Matt also served as the head coach for Southpointe's 8U White Mites, and both the Peters Township Jr Indians Mite & Peewee teams in 2020-2021. Matt has overseen or assisted in the development of players making significant year to year progress, from Blue to Red Mite, and from Red Mite to Squirt 1 with multiple players. Matt has had the benefit of working with and having great relationships with some of the area's premier High School, Collegiate, and Tier 1 Coaches, and enters the 2021-2022 Season as a USA Hockey registered Level 4 Coach.

Matt grew up playing amateur hockey in Pittsburgh, where he then went on to play D1 hockey at Duquesne University. In addition to his coaching qualifications, Matt is a USA Hockey Level 4 Ice Hockey Official and officiates ice hockey in the NCAA. Matt was also honored to be selected to officiate the 2019-2020 USA Hockey National Championships.

12U Pee Wee - Eddie Budavich

12U Pee Wee - Zak DiGorio

Zak has been coaching within USA Hockey over the past fourteen (14) years and specifically with the South Pittsburgh Rebellion for the last three (3) Seasons. Coach DiGorio has been a Level 4 USA Hockey Coach since 2012 and has coached from the Mite Level all the way through High School Varsity during his career in both a Head Coach and in the capacity of an Assistant Coach role. As a player and a coach, Zak has been around the sport of hockey for over twenty-five (25) years.

He most recently served as an 8U Blue Head Coach during the 2023-24 season where his Mite Team claimed five tournament championships. For the upcoming 2024-25 Season, Zak is the Head Coach of the SPHC A-Major 10U Team, where his older son Zachary plays as a Left Wing. His responsibilities extend to also serving as the Assistant to the Mite Coordinator as well as an Assistant Coach on the Reitmeyer 8U Red II Team for the SPHC, where his younger son Greyson is placed.

12U Pee Wee - Scott Shell

Scott Shell brings a wealth of experience to his coaching role, with a hockey journey that began in the Mount Lebanon Hockey Association (1978–1987). He went on to play at Cranbrook/Kingswood School, Mount Lebanon High School, and for the Pittsburgh Amateur Penguins Junior B team before continuing his career at Penn State (1992–1994).

Transitioning to coaching, Scott has made significant contributions across multiple programs. He served as an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Hornets AAA Midget Major team (1998–2000) before leading the Hornets’ AAA Midget Minor and AAA Squirt Major teams as head coach. He also held numerous coaching roles with the Southpointe Rink Rats, guiding teams from 8U through 12U.

Now in his second season as head coach of the South Pittsburgh Rebellion 12U team, Scott continues to demonstrate his commitment to developing young hockey talent.

 

12U Girls - Fletcher Loder

Coach Fletcher is entering his first season as a head coach with the South Pittsburgh Rebellion after serving as an assistant coach for multiple teams in the organization over the past five years. He has earned his USA Hockey Level 5 coaching certification and holds a Bronze Level Goalie coaching certification. In addition to his work with the Rebellion, he also coaches with Canon Mac hockey and boys lacrosse. Coach Fletcher's philosophy centers on fostering a love for the sport through fun, fast-paced, high-energy practices that emphasize skill development, competition, teamwork, and hockey IQ.

A strong advocate for growing girls' hockey, Fletcher is committed to making sure female athletes feel supported, challenged, and valued. He works to create an inclusive team culture where players develop confidence, leadership, and a lifelong love for the game. But above all, his goal is to develop athletes who are excited to come to the rink, eager to improve, and ready to compete at their best.

 

10U Squirt 2015 - Jim Sedlak

10U Squirt 2016 - Nick Santora

10U Squirt - Dave Fullerton 

Dave Fullerton is entering his 4th season with SPHC and 3rd as a head coach. He will also be an assistant coach this season for his daughter's mite team in the white division. Dave is a USA Hockey Certified Level 3 Coach and enjoys being part of the development process as kids become hooked on hockey, grow to become great players, and more importantly great teammates.

Dave split time growing up in Texas and Michigan. After meeting his wife, a South Hills native, and having their first child while living in Dallas, Dave and his family moved back to the South Hills area in 2017. Dave is active in the Peters Township Junior Indians Developmental Hockey program as a head coach and incoming Director for this season. He still plays hockey in the Printscape adult leagues and is an assistant coach for both his son and daughter's recreational soccer teams.

10U Squirt - Matt Schnieders

Matt Schnieders is entering his 7th year of coaching at South Pittsburgh, and this will be his second season as head coach. Matt grew up in the South Hills and started playing hockey at Central Pittsburgh in the Southside, later switching to the Southpointe Rink Rats when the Isoplex opened in the late 90s. He played from Freshman through Varsity at Upper St. Clair and for one year with the Penn State Ice Lions (ACHA D2). Additionally, Matt plays pickup and in the Printscape adult league (Golden Bears). Outside of hockey, Matt also assists as a coach with Canon Mac Lacrosse.