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York High's school board voted to approve Eastern York coach Daryl "Bud" Kyle as the Bearcats' newest head football coach for the 2026-27 season.
The decision, however, was not unanimous. Kyle was approved by a 5-4 vote at the City of York School District's school board meeting Wednesday night.
The vote came at the tail end of a meeting that lasted nearly two-and-a-half hours. Kyle was tabbed as the Bearcats' next coach after the district moved to not reapprove former coach Russ Stoner, a decision that drew public outcry from Stoner's supporters both online and in-person.
Stoner coached the Bearcats for 10 seasons before Wednesday, accruing a 62-41 record with eight District 3 playoff appearances and an 11-2 record in 2018.
A change.org petition started by Stoner's daughter, Maddi, garnered more than 1,100 signatures by Wednesday evening after being posted the day before. The petition asked board members "to consider the full body of his work, the measurable success of the program, and the countless lives he has impacted throughout his years of service."
More than 30 individuals, including current and former players, parents and community members, spoke out in favor of the former coach during the meeting's public comment period. Numerous speakers became emotional when recalling Stoner's impact on their lives. Nine letters mailed into the district expressing their support for Stoner were also read aloud before the floor was opened to speakers.
Board members that voted in favor of Kyle's hiring were:
Board members that voted against Kyle's hiring were:
Before the meeting began, current York High players and other Stoner supporters congregated at Small Field at 5 p.m. and began a walk down to the school board office to attend the meeting as a group.
34 individuals stepped up to speak during the meeting's public comment period − most in favor of Stoner but others in favor of unity under Kyle and in regard to other district matters − and all were granted the standard five-minute time limit. Two speakers were not allowed to speak on the grounds that they did not currently live within the school district.
Former York High players such as Montress Jackson and Dwayne Beady, among others, made impassioned pleas that the district rethink its decision. Jackson, a 2023 alumnus who now plays for Ursinus College, argued that Stoner delivered an "old school presence" and brought out the best in his players through discipline and hard work.
"Winning on the field is nice, but winning in life is more, and that was the foundation he laid down since I met him in seventh grade," Jackson said. "Removing Coach Stoner from his position as head coach at York High would essentially tear down all the progress he's made over the last 10 years in helping the youth of the city become future leaders of this country."
Jackson also harkened back to the days before Stoner was hired, when the Bearcats went 17-44 through six seasons and finished the 2015 season with an 0-10 record.
Beady became emotional at podium when recounting his experiences with Stoner, who helped him and his family find housing and even provided furniture after they became homeless for a time. As did 2018 graduate Dahmier Banks, who said that the coach offered him a support system at a time when his mother was working long hours and his father was incarcerated.
"In the midst of all that, Coach Stoner came in," Banks said. "My dreams were met with affirmation, because he talked to me like he knew I was going to be someone."
Khalid Dorsey, another former York High standout and assistant coach under Stoner, implored those at the meeting to give grace and empathy. Dorsey emphasized York High's impending season opener against Harrisburg to encourage the community to rally behind the team, regardless of the coach.
"We've got to come together for the boys," Dorsey said. "Harrisburg's community doesn't do this. Harrisburg's community comes together as one. They're going to try to come to Small Field in two months and 12 days and kick our kids in the mouth, and we're sitting here arguing about who's going to be the coach."
Current players like Jaishan Matte and Bennett Brautigan also took time to voice fervent support of the former coach, alongside a handful of parents and community members.
During his allotted time, Matte said that the decision by the district hurt him and his teammates, and he also became emotional while talking about the impact Stoner left on him.
"He's another father figure to not just me, but to everyone in here," Matte said. "That man has done everything for me. He taught his son how to play quarterback, and Sam (Stoner) taught me what I'm doing right now. He puts his family first before everything, and he put us in that family."
A York High alumnus himself, Kyle graduated in 2005 after playing under former Bearcats coach Matt Ortega as a linebacker. He eventually went on to play at Division I FCS St. Francis before transferring to Millersville.
Kyle later became an assistant coach at York High, coaching the freshman squad for two years before taking a varsity assistant position at Steelton-Highspire. He then took command as the head coach at Columbia in 2017, going 19-29 through five seasons, including an 8-2 mark in his final season and winning the Crimson Tide their first Lancaster-Lebanon divisional title since 2002.
His later move to Eastern York was highlighted by three consecutive winning seasons and three straight District 3 playoff appearances. Before Kyle, Eastern York's last winning season had been in 2014 and had gone through five head coaches in 12 seasons. Kyle ended his four years with the Golden Knights with a 23-20 record.
Kyle's approval comes less than two months before high school football practices are scheduled to begin in August. York High opens its 2026 schedule with a home game against Harrisburg, the defending District 3 Class 6A champion, on August 28.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: York High school board approves Bud Kyle as newest head football coach
Continue reading...
The decision, however, was not unanimous. Kyle was approved by a 5-4 vote at the City of York School District's school board meeting Wednesday night.
The vote came at the tail end of a meeting that lasted nearly two-and-a-half hours. Kyle was tabbed as the Bearcats' next coach after the district moved to not reapprove former coach Russ Stoner, a decision that drew public outcry from Stoner's supporters both online and in-person.
Stoner coached the Bearcats for 10 seasons before Wednesday, accruing a 62-41 record with eight District 3 playoff appearances and an 11-2 record in 2018.
A change.org petition started by Stoner's daughter, Maddi, garnered more than 1,100 signatures by Wednesday evening after being posted the day before. The petition asked board members "to consider the full body of his work, the measurable success of the program, and the countless lives he has impacted throughout his years of service."
More than 30 individuals, including current and former players, parents and community members, spoke out in favor of the former coach during the meeting's public comment period. Numerous speakers became emotional when recalling Stoner's impact on their lives. Nine letters mailed into the district expressing their support for Stoner were also read aloud before the floor was opened to speakers.
Board members that voted in favor of Kyle's hiring were:
- Board Director Michael Breeland
- Board Director Diane Glover-Brown
- Board Director Margie Orr
- Board Director Cassandra Liggins
- Board Director Aisha Beatty-White
Board members that voted against Kyle's hiring were:
- President Lisa Kennedy
- Vice President Tynisha Wilkes
- Board Director Halman Smith II
- Board Director Micah Leonard
Public comment period
Before the meeting began, current York High players and other Stoner supporters congregated at Small Field at 5 p.m. and began a walk down to the school board office to attend the meeting as a group.
34 individuals stepped up to speak during the meeting's public comment period − most in favor of Stoner but others in favor of unity under Kyle and in regard to other district matters − and all were granted the standard five-minute time limit. Two speakers were not allowed to speak on the grounds that they did not currently live within the school district.
Former York High players such as Montress Jackson and Dwayne Beady, among others, made impassioned pleas that the district rethink its decision. Jackson, a 2023 alumnus who now plays for Ursinus College, argued that Stoner delivered an "old school presence" and brought out the best in his players through discipline and hard work.
"Winning on the field is nice, but winning in life is more, and that was the foundation he laid down since I met him in seventh grade," Jackson said. "Removing Coach Stoner from his position as head coach at York High would essentially tear down all the progress he's made over the last 10 years in helping the youth of the city become future leaders of this country."
Jackson also harkened back to the days before Stoner was hired, when the Bearcats went 17-44 through six seasons and finished the 2015 season with an 0-10 record.
Beady became emotional at podium when recounting his experiences with Stoner, who helped him and his family find housing and even provided furniture after they became homeless for a time. As did 2018 graduate Dahmier Banks, who said that the coach offered him a support system at a time when his mother was working long hours and his father was incarcerated.
"In the midst of all that, Coach Stoner came in," Banks said. "My dreams were met with affirmation, because he talked to me like he knew I was going to be someone."
Khalid Dorsey, another former York High standout and assistant coach under Stoner, implored those at the meeting to give grace and empathy. Dorsey emphasized York High's impending season opener against Harrisburg to encourage the community to rally behind the team, regardless of the coach.
"We've got to come together for the boys," Dorsey said. "Harrisburg's community doesn't do this. Harrisburg's community comes together as one. They're going to try to come to Small Field in two months and 12 days and kick our kids in the mouth, and we're sitting here arguing about who's going to be the coach."
Current players like Jaishan Matte and Bennett Brautigan also took time to voice fervent support of the former coach, alongside a handful of parents and community members.
During his allotted time, Matte said that the decision by the district hurt him and his teammates, and he also became emotional while talking about the impact Stoner left on him.
"He's another father figure to not just me, but to everyone in here," Matte said. "That man has done everything for me. He taught his son how to play quarterback, and Sam (Stoner) taught me what I'm doing right now. He puts his family first before everything, and he put us in that family."
Kyle's resume
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A York High alumnus himself, Kyle graduated in 2005 after playing under former Bearcats coach Matt Ortega as a linebacker. He eventually went on to play at Division I FCS St. Francis before transferring to Millersville.
Kyle later became an assistant coach at York High, coaching the freshman squad for two years before taking a varsity assistant position at Steelton-Highspire. He then took command as the head coach at Columbia in 2017, going 19-29 through five seasons, including an 8-2 mark in his final season and winning the Crimson Tide their first Lancaster-Lebanon divisional title since 2002.
His later move to Eastern York was highlighted by three consecutive winning seasons and three straight District 3 playoff appearances. Before Kyle, Eastern York's last winning season had been in 2014 and had gone through five head coaches in 12 seasons. Kyle ended his four years with the Golden Knights with a 23-20 record.
Kyle's approval comes less than two months before high school football practices are scheduled to begin in August. York High opens its 2026 schedule with a home game against Harrisburg, the defending District 3 Class 6A champion, on August 28.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: York High school board approves Bud Kyle as newest head football coach
Continue reading...
