When I first met Kyle Haas during the summer, I had a good feeling Northampton hired the right guy.

A blink and 11 games later, I’m confident more than just me have the same feeling. This is a time to give thanks in Northampton football circles before the one-mile Super Bowl takes place Thursday.

Haas, who has a rich football lineage in his family, is two years away from a successful season at Bethlehem Catholic as an interim head coach who led the Golden Hawks to the state semifinals.

When Joe Henrich returned to Becahi, Haas was anxious to stay in the high school scene, but he settled for an assistant’s position at Moravian College.

Northampton didn’t waste any time ushering him into their program last winter.

From the start, Haas preached about changing the culture in Kid Land. He didn’t offer the typical coach-speak filled with clichés and adages, but analyzed and philosophized on how Northampton could take a seismographic previous 10 years filled with more lows than highs since their last winning season in 2008, and transform itself into a major player in the East Penn Conference (EPC).

Haas assembled a group of veteran and respected coaches from the Lehigh Valley to assemble his staff. He brought fellow Moravian assistant Shawn Daignault to direct what would be one of the stingiest defensive units in the area.

Talk can be cheap, but players were genuinely and honestly enthusiastic about a legitimate shot for a winning season. They had spent the last six months toiling with their new coach in the weight room.

Goliath Parkland was there to open the season for David, Northampton.

When the Kids were shutout, 41-0, everyone quickly changed their new-found tune and reverted back to the same ol’ Kids chatter. It appeared like another long season ahead, only to find some salvage along the way that would eventually lead to a good shot to beat Catasauqua in the end.

Instead of unlocking the lifeboats, Haas sailed ahead with a smile.

He convinced his team that they were only beating themselves mentally, being well within reach of Parkland down 14-0 at halftime.

It worked.

The Kids reeled off five impressive wins in their new surroundings of the EPC North, and football talk was back in Northampton.

Sure, the Kids didn’t have to tangle with the traditional big boys of the EPC South, but they posted victories that were mainly over at halftime.

Haas watched his team squander a lead against Stroudsburg in an EPC North title game, and realized his program still had some hurdles to clear.

He knows his team missed some opportunities and experienced some flaws with execution along the way.

He kept it brutally honest throughout the year and always picked up the phone despite his team reaching their level late in the season going 2-3 in their final five games.

Haas understands his 7-4 team will be a heavy favorite against a 1-9 Catasauqua team Thanksgiving morning, but he plans to enjoy the ambience of the event.

However, the team’s seven or eight wins to finish the season shouldn’t go unnoticed and be highly commended. The program experienced a litany of firsts this season since their days of yesteryear.

The culture has changed and expectations are there. The long anticipated wait is over.

It’s all due to the right guy.