Former Delone Catholic coach Tom Hunt approved as Hempfield girls' volleyball coach

You will have a hard time finding a more consistently dominant girls' volleyball program in Pennsylvania than the Hempfield Black Knights. And starting next year, they'll be led by a former YAIAA coach.

Tom Hunt, who coached Delone Catholic from 1997 to 2004, was approved as Hempfield's new head coach Tuesday. Hunt was a volunteer assistant with the Black Knights last season.

"Once I got back into it," Hunt said Tuesday night, "the bug kind of bit again"

Hunt replaces Pat Shawaryn, who led Hempfield to a 55-2 record in five-set matches during his three seasons as coach. The Black Knights won a Class AAA state title in 2010, and lost in the PIAA championship game last season. Shawaryn accepted a position on the Juniata men's volleyball staff earlier this offseason.

Full disclosure: Hunt serves as a correspondent for the Daily Record, helping to lead our wrestling coverage. He formerly worked as a clerk in the Daily Record sports department.

Hunt's hiring was reported first by Jeff Reinhart's LLleaguesports.com.

Hunt said his biggest concern in taking the job was making sure he had enough time to devote to the job. He works as a math teacher at Spring Grove High School.

"I made a literal pros and cons list, and it come out 2-to-1 in favor of the pros," Hunt said. "This was just something I wanted to get back into. ... I’m not doing this as a one-year deal. "

As Delone Catholic's coach, Hunt won six YAIAA Division II titles and two District 3 crowns. He should have plenty to work with in his first season as Hempfield's head coach. The Black Knights return five starters from last season and boast plenty of depth throughout the program.