11/29/24 Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Penn Cambria head coach Nick Felus reacts after giving up a TD.

Nick Felus, who coached the Penn Cambria High School football team to its greatest season in program history in 2024, has resigned from his position to take another coaching job.

The Neshaminy School District, located in the Philadelphia suburb of Langhorne, announced on Wednesday that Felus was approved as its next head football coach at its school board meeting on Tuesday night.

“A lot of time and thought went into this decision,” Felus said in a text to the Mirror Wednesday night. “This was not an easy decision to make. A lot of factors went into this, and it was one that my family and I put a lot of thought into. In the coaching profession, timing is everything, and the timing of this situation was just right. This was an opportunity that we couldn’t pass up.”

Neshaminy is a Class 6A program that competes in the Suburban One League and District 1.

“With (Felus’) passion, leadership and dedication to the game, we are excited for the future of our team under his guidance,” Neshaminy High School Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Lisa Pennington said in a press release. “Coach Felus brings a wealth of experience and commitment to excellence that will inspire our players both on and off the field.”

Felus, 47, is a 1996 Penn Cambria graduate who was an assistant coach at Coatesville Area High School (located 50 miles west of Neshaminy) from 2009-2016. He came back to Central Pennsylvania when he was hired as the Altoona Area head football coach in 2016.

After three years at Altoona where his teams went 7-23, his position was opened and he was hired by his alma mater in March 2019, succeeding John Franco, whom he had succeeded at Altoona.

“My family and I will be forever grateful for our time at PC,” said Felus, who thanked the school board and administration for the opportunity and support. “The community embraced us, and we’ve built a lot of great friendships in our six years there. We are thankful and appreciative for our time spent on the mountain.”

In six years, Felus built a program at Penn Cambria that became a perennial participant in the District 6 Class 3A championship game by instilling in his players a “mountain mentality.” After losing to Central in the 3A final in 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Panthers won their first-ever district title this past season by beating Central in the semifinals and Tyrone in the championship game.

The Panthers also downed Somerset and Hickory in the state playoffs before falling to Avonworth, 16-6, in the PIAA semifinals to complete a 14-1 season in which they also defeated Bishop Guilfoyle for the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference championship. After the historic season, Felus was voted the Altoona Mirror Coach of the Year.

“The relationships that were built with the players is something that is going to hold a special place in my heart,” Felus said. “The players put everything they had into this program, and I am honored to have been their coach.

“And I am extremely thankful to have had such a great coaching staff these past six years. We worked extremely hard and also enjoyed being around each other.”

Felus’ teams went 43-27 in his six seasons in Cresson. He is replacing Steve Wilmot, who went 64-42 over 10 seasons — and 6-5 last season — at Neshaminy.

“Coach Felus has done a remarkable job with our football program over the years,” Penn Cambria AD Kate Little said. “There’s no doubt that his leadership and passion for the game have made an impact. We are appreciative of all that he has done during his time.

“While it’s always difficult to see a coach go, I believe that the foundation he has laid will continue to influence the team moving forward.”