For the fourth time in five years, the Todd Beamer High School football program has a new head coach.

Bethel High School offensive coordinator David Sundheim was hired Wednesday to replace Gem Abe, Beamer athletic director Jerry Peterson announced.

“He did a great job out there at Bethel the last couple years with them making the playoffs,” Peterson said. “He was a big part of that and is a good fit for us. I am really excited.”

Sundheim worked under Bethel head coach Gavin Kralik for the last three years and his spread offense averaged over 24 points a game last season. The Braves finished the season 6-4 overall and in third place in the South Puget Sound League South Division. Bethel lost to Bothell in the opening round of the Class 4A state playoffs.

In 2007, the Braves’ offense averaged 32 points a game and quarterback Oliver Henry led the SPSL with 2,879 yards passing and 25 touchdowns in 10 games.

Sundheim played wide receiver at Liberty University in Virginia and spent four years on the East Coast coaching high school football before making the move to Bethel.

“He’s excited,” Peterson said. “He’s got the energy to really give us what we need here at Beamer.”

Abe coached the Titans for the last two years and led Beamer to a 2-18 record during his tenure. The Titans finished 0-10 last season and are currently in the midst of an 18-game losing streak. Beamer won their first two games in 2007 over Jefferson and Decatur, before losing their final eight.

Abe was hired before the 2007 season after Hall of Fame coach Dick Zatkovich unexpectedly resigned to deal with some family health issues after one season at the helm of the program. Abe had been an assistant at various schools and came to Beamer in 2006 as an assistant for Zatkovich.