Powel named Carroll football coach

Joe Powel, who guided Archbishop Wood to two Blue Division championships, is returning to the Catholic League.

Archbishop Carroll has tabbed Powel, the boss at Upper Merion for the last four years, to replace Dan Bielli, who stepped down recently after compiling a 98-55 record in 12 seasons.

At Wood from 2004 to '06, Powel went 27-9 overall and 19-3 in Catholic League action. The Vikings won the Catholic League Blue title in 2004 and 2005, and bowed in the '06 final. In 2005, he was named the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association (PSFCA) District 13 coach of the year.

At Upper Merion, the Havertown resident went 11-29 overall and 7-18 in the Suburban One League American Conference. He is a graduate of the old Bishop Kenrick and Widener University.

Powel's brother, Jason, a defensive coordinator at Upper Merion, is expected to join him at Carroll. The Patriots are coming off three consecutive losing seasons.