WAYNESBURG, Pa. (May 20) – The Waynesburg University football program recently added two new members to its coaching staff who both bring impressive high school credentials to the college game.

Rich Bowen, who most recently served a second term as the head coach at the highly successful Serra Catholic program, and Sean Blumette, who was an assistant under Bowen with the Eagles, were recently introduced to head coach Rick Shepas' staff.

Bowen, who is Waynesburg's new offensive coordinator, spent the past five seasons at Serra and led the school through one of its most successful stretches in recent program history. After inheriting a 2-7 team prior to the 2005 campaign, Bowen immediately transformed the Eagles into a winning team. They went 5-4 in his first season at the helm, and they never finished below .500. During his half-decade with the squad, Bowen went 41-14.

Serra had one of their greatest seasons in school history in 2007 when they went 15-1, won a Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) title, scored over 700 total points and made it to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Class A title game, where they earned second place in the state of Pennsylvania.

Prior to his most recent stint at Serra, Bowen spent four years as the head coach at Yough (2001-04), six years as the head coach at Elizabeth Forward (1994-99) and four years as the head coach at Serra (1990-93). In all, Bowen has spent 19 years as a high school coach.

Before joining the coaching ranks, Bowen played college football at the University of Pittsburgh (1982) before transferring to Youngstown State University. After playing one year at Pitt, Bowen earned two varsity letters at YSU and graduated in 1987 with a degree in sports management.

Bowen graduated from Serra Catholic in 1982 as a decorated quarterback for the Eagles. In 1981, while leading his team to a WPIAL crown, Bowen was honored as a first-team all-state signal-caller and a Parade All-American. In the summer of 1982, Bowen was honored as a captain in the prestigious Big 33 All-Star game.

As previously mentioned, Blumette also comes to Waynesburg from Serra Catholic, where he also spent five years on the sidelines, including his last four as the team's defensive coordinator. He will work with the Jacket linebackers.

Blumette has been well-traveled in his 12 years as a high school coach. Prior to his time with Bowen in the high school ranks, he spent three seasons (2002-04) at Franklin Regional, a year at Serra Catholic in 2000, a year at Geibel Catholic (1998) and he made his high school coaching debut in 1995 at Serra. He also coached the Eagles in 1996.

Blumette graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in education from California University of Pa. in 1998 and earned a master's degree in education from Gannon in 2006. He also earned his principal's certification from Gannon that same year.

Blumette graduated from Serra Catholic in 1994 after spending four years as a varsity player.

The Waynesburg football team also announced that recently graduated All-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) safety, Dylan August will be return to the team as a graduate assistant working with the defensive backs.

The Jackets are scheduled to kick off the 2010 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 11, when they travel to Wilkes-Barre, Pa. to take on Wilkes as part of the PAC-MAC Challenge series between the PAC and the Middle Atlantic Conference.