Wilson

CHERRY TWP— Steve Wilson is stepping down as football coach at Moniteau.

Wilson, 32, informed the school district's superintendent Monday that he will be unable to return as Warriors coach next fall. He recently accepted a position as a Pennsylvania State Education Association union representative for various schools in Western Pennsylvania.

Wilson also resigned his sixth-grade teaching position in the Moniteau district.

"This is a better financial thing, there's more flexibility in vacation time and chance for advancement,"Wilson said. "I love teaching and I love coaching, but a lot of times coaching forces you to put football before family.

"I'm putting family first on this one. This is a better decision for my family."

Wilson was 27-26 in five years of coaching Moniteau football, including a trip to the District 9 Class AA championship game in 2005.

His last three teams won six games each year. His 2006 squad lost its final five games after a 6-0 start, including a season-ending 32-29 playoff loss at Karns City.

Wilson's new position does not require him to give up coaching, but he said the logistics of the new job make it nearly impossible.

His office will be located just east of New Castle on Route 422. His family will not have to relocate.

"I'll be working a lot of night hours that would force me to miss some practices, and trips to Harrisburg might have meant missing some games,"Wilson said. "That wouldn't be fair to the other coaches or the kids.

"It's hard to leave, though. Moniteau is a great place to coach. The support from the school and the community have been tremendous."

Wilson doesn't dismiss a return to coaching somewhere down the road.

"Once it's in your blood, it's in your blood," he said. "I'm starting a new chapter in my life right now, but I'd love to coach again."

Moniteau returns a solid corps of players next season, including quarterback Tyler Armagost, who was only a sophomore last year.

"The timing of this isn't good for me from a coaching perspective,"Wilson admitted. "My best team since I've been here will probably be next year's team. It's hard knowing you won't be around to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

"I'm proud of what we've accomplished in five years, on and off the field. We're more competitive on the field. We're better academically. We're sending more kids on to college, whether it's for football or not," he added.

Two in-house candidates to replace Wilson include current defensive coordinator Jeff Campbell and longtime junior varsity coach Cecil Blauser.

Wilson said he's grateful to be leaving coaching on his own terms.

"Not many coaches get the opportunity to leave voluntarily and I'm jumping on this chance," he said. "Most of the time, we're forced out of the game. I'm one of the lucky ones."