CRANBERRY TWP — Jason Gildon thought he’d have more time putting a stamp on the Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic football program.

Instead, the former standout linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers got only two seasons.

Gildon’s position was opened up by the North Catholic School Board Thursday night in a move that surprised him.

“You know it’s definitely tough,” Gildon said. “You build relationships and any time you have to part ways, it’s very difficult.”

Gildon went 17-6 in his two years at the helm of the Trojans.

North Catholic was 11-1 during his first season in 2015, losing to Jeannette, 22-14, in the WPIAL Class A semifinals.

This season was an up and down one for Gildon and the Trojans, who started 2-2 and finished the regular season at 5-4.

North Catholic, though, qualified for the WPIAL 2A playoffs and beat Burgettstown in the first round, 14-7, before an embarrassing 71-28 loss to Neshannock the next week.

“I’m pretty sure (the up-and-down season) may have factored into the decision,” Gildon said. “I think there were also a lot of factors other than that.”

Gildon has two sons on the team. King Gildon is a junior and Justus Gildon is a freshman.

Steelers’ head coach Mike Tomlin and assistant coach Joey Porter also have kids on the North Catholic roster.

Gildon, who recorded 77 sacks as a Steeler from 1994-03, spent three years as an assistant coach at Seneca Valley before taking the North Catholic head coaching job.