Dennis Buchman resigned Friday as Hazleton Area’s football coach after running the program for five seasons.
Hazleton Area athletic director Fred Barletta confirmed that Buchman handed in his resignation Friday afternoon. He said Buchman cited personal reasons for his departure.
“He did discuss some things with me,” Barletta said. “I would rather not comment on that. I’d leave that up to him.”
Several attempts to reach Buchman were unsuccessful.
Barletta said he submitted the resignation to the central administration and will ask that the school board to accept it during Thursday’s meeting. Once the school board accepts the resignation, the opening will be posted, perhaps as early as Friday of next week.
Buchman, a 2007 graduate of Hazleton Area, took over for Mike Brennan prior to the 2020 season. He had to deal with a season shortened because of the COVID-19 pandemic and finished 4-3, losing to Delaware Valley in the District 2 Class 6A championship game.
The Cougars finished 8-4 in 2021, once again losing in the playoffs to Delaware Valley. They were 8-3 in 2022, with the season ending with a loss to Bethlehem Freedom in the District 2/11 Class 6A playoffs.
Hazleton Area finished 2-8 in 2023, failing to make the postseason. This past year, the Cougars were 5-6. The season ended with a 15-6 loss to Williamsport in the District 2/4 Class 6A playoffs.
Buchman was the seventh head coach for the program, which played its first game in 1992 after the merger of Freeland, Hazleton and West Hazleton high schools.
The Wyoming Valley Conference has had three coaching openings among its 12 teams since the end of the season.