Seneca Valley has hired Don Barclay, seen here coaching youth football players at the Don Barclay-Brandon Fusco Youth Football Camp at Seneca Valley’s NexTier Stadium in 2022, as its new varsity football coach. He was approved by the school board Monday. Butler Eagle file photo

When he joined Seneca Valley’s football coaching staff in 2023, Don Barclay had an end goal, one he reached at Monday night’s school board meeting.

Barclay, who graduated from SV in 2007 before going on to a decorated college career at West Virginia University and a six-year NFL career on the offensive line, was approved as the Raiders’ new varsity football coach.

“I was the offensive line coach at Seneca two years ago, and I knew when I stepped into that role that I wanted to be a high school head coach one day,” Barclay said. “I needed some experience with how the high school process worked, and I wanted to better myself. Anyone who has a goal of becoming a head coach has to want that for themselves.”

Barclay, who lives with his wife and children in Cranberry Township, served as an assistant line coach at Pine-Richland last season. SV’s job became available when Ron Butschle resigned in November. Barclay was one of 24 applicants.

“A lot of players and parents were at the board meeting, and I got a chance to speak with them about my vision for football at Seneca Valley. They were very receptive,” he said. “It all starts in the weight room. We want our seniors to take the lead there and have it trickle down to the younger players.

“Another thing is we need to be successful at the lower levels, junior varsity to junior high and down to the youth teams. That’s the future of any high school program.”

Barclay credited a number of his former coaches with not only instilling in him what it takes to play and be successful on the gridiron, but also how to deal with players in general.

“My line coach at Seneca was Jim Lucot, at West Virginia it was Dave Johnson and James Campen with the (Green Bay) Packers,” he said. “All of those guys were tremendous influences on me, and there are things I learned from them that I can pass on to high school players.”

The Raiders are coming off a 3-7 season while competing in WPIAL Class 6A with heavyweights Central Catholic and North Allegheny.

“I’ve heard some people use the word ‘rebuild’ when referring to us, but I think we have the players in place to win now,” Barclay said. “We have a very strong senior class coming back.

“There are some great teams in 6A, but we have to worry about ourselves. When teams play Seneca Valley, we want them to fear us.”