Salem University Athletics

You must like kids to a be a good coach, and have their well-being at heart; you must be tough enough to discipline them; despite their best efforts to fail, you must push them to succeed; you must know when to give a well-timed pat on the back; and a good coach knows when and how to enjoy the moment –the time you have to spend with each individual – “not worrying what’s down the road”. This philosophy of Bill Kirelawich has served him in good stead, from his captaincy of Salem’s Top 20 NAIA nationality ranked football team (his 89 yard interception return is still a school record) to his run as the longest on-field tenured coach in WVU football history.

After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Salem in 1969, Kirelawich became head coach at Cardinal Brennan High School, where he took a losing program and in six years had the 10^th ranked team in Pennsylvania. He coached and taught at Cardinal Brennan for 9 years.

Kirelawich began his West Virginia University career in 1980, where he coached for Don Nehlen and Rich Rodriguez. While at WVU he coached 14 all-conference players and two All-American award winners. His motivating, coaching and recruiting skills are well recognized by coaches, players and fans.