Blainefield returns to coaching

BY JEFF OLIVER

For MVI Sports

When Mikey Blainefield resigned as Monessen’s football coach after the 2019 season, he said he wanted to take a step back and recharge his batteries before figuring out his coaching future.

Apparently, one year away was one year too many for Blainefield, 35.

“It was horrendous (not coaching),” Blainefield said. “Every Friday night I found myself wishing I was on a sideline somewhere … anywhere. It was tough being away from it.”

When the upcoming WPIAL season kicks off, Blainefield won’t be living that nightmare again.

He was hired recently as an assistant at Class 5A Franklin Regional, where he joins the staff of Lance Getsy.

Getsy, who coached previously at Charleroi, was an assistant at FR last season and was named head coach when long-time Panthers coach Greg Botta retired.

Blainefield, who had other inquires to join staffs at other schools but declined, said the offer to join FR came out of nowhere.

“(Getsy) reached out to me in April and asked if I was coaching anywhere and I said I wasn’t,” Blainefield said. “He asked if I was interested and I jumped at it. I was surprised, but I’m happy he thought of me.”

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