PINE-RICHLAND (Pa.) HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH ERIC KASPEROWICZ TO LEAD U.S. UNDER-19 NATIONAL TEAM AT INTERNATIONAL BOWL X IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS
INDIANAPOLIS – Eric Kasperowicz, the head football coach of Pine-Richland High School in Gibsonia, Pa., and defending Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 6A state champion, will lead the 2019 United States Under-19 National Team against Team Tamaulipas of Mexico on Jan. 18, 2019 in the 10th annual International Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
In his sixth season as head coach of the Pine-Richland Rams, Kasperowicz’s teams have a 57-14 (.803) record and earned the school’s first PIAA state title in 2017. Kasperowicz was Pine-Richland’s offensive coordinator for three years prior to becoming head coach in 2013. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, perennial power Pittsburgh North Hills High School. Kasperowicz served as a North Hills assistant for 12 seasons where he played quarterback and earned 1993 Parade All-American honors and played in the prestigious Big 33 All-Star Game. He went on to play at the University of Pittsburgh on a football scholarship as quarterback and linebacker for the Panthers.
Established in 2010, the International Bowl is the longest-running annual series of high school-aged international football teams. This year’s event – International Bowl X – will convene 16 teams from five countries across four age divisions for two gamedays of global competition. U.S. National Teams are managed by USA Football, a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and the sport’s national governing body.
All International Bowl games will be webcast live on ESPN3.
“It’s a great honor to represent the United States and to coach some of the top football-playing student-athletes in the country,” said Kasperowicz. “There’s a rich tradition of success with our Under-19 National Team and those who have led it. I look forward to continuing that tradition come January at AT&T Stadium.”
“Coach Kasperowicz is a winner who knows how to coach this sport and lead his student-athletes,” said AARON INGRAM, senior manager of U.S. National Teams for USA Football. “He stands among the most exciting and successful coaches in high school football – we are very pleased to have him lead our team.”
The U.S. Under-19 National Team, guided by Kasperowicz, will play a foreign national team to be determined in the weeks ahead. All International Bowl X games will be played at AT&T Stadium, home of college football’s Goodyear Cotton Bowl and the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. Age divisions of competing national teams are Under-16, Under-17, Under-18 and Under-19. The 10th annual event will feature 12 days of team activities, skill development and practices.
Established in 2010, the International Bowl is the longest-running annual series of high school-aged international football teams. This year’s event – International Bowl X – will convene 16 teams from four continents across four age divisions for two gamedays of global competition. The International Bowl is managed by USA Football, a member of the U.S. Olympic committee and the sport’s national governing body.
U.S. Under-19 National Team head coaches include CHUCK KYLE (Cleveland St. Ignatius H.S.), CHRIS MERRITT (Miami Christopher Columbus H.S.), STEVE SPECHT (Cincinnati St. Xavier H.S.) and TOM WESTERBERG (Barbers Hill [Texas] H.S.).
U.S. Under-19 National Team alumni include DT MALCOM BROWN (New England Patriots/University of Texas), LB SHAQUEM GRIFFIN (Seattle Seahawks/University of Central Florida), QB DWAYNE HASKINS (Ohio State University), RB TODD GURLEY (Los Angeles Rams/Georgia University), DB TYRANN MATHIEU (Houston Texans/LSU), RB JONATHAN TAYLOR (University of Wisconsin) and DE STEPHON TUITT (Pittsburgh Steelers/University of Notre Dame).
About USA Football: USA Football designs and delivers premier educational, developmental and competitive programs to advance and grow the sport. As the sport’s national governing body, member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and organizer of the U.S. National Team for international competition, USA Football partners with leaders in medicine, child advocacy and athletics to support positive football experiences for youth, high school and other amateur players.