BUTLER TWP — Return home or continue building one.

Rod Harris opted for the former, ending his six-year tenure as Butler High School girls track and field coach to become athletic director at Milton Area High School.

Harris, 33, graduated from Milton in 1994.

"Ever since I became a varsity coach, my goal has always been to become an athletic director," Harris said. "That way, I can help all of the athletic teams at a school insteadof just one.

"When the opportunity arose at my alma mater, I couldn't pass it up. But this was a very difficult decision nonetheless."

Butler's girls finished third in the WPIAL three times during Harris' six years as head coach. The Golden Tornado boys have been in the WPIAL Finals each of the last five years, winning the title in 2007.

"Rod's been a big part of that as well," Butler boys track coach Rick Schontz said. "We combine to coach all of the athletes. Rod handles the sprinters, relays and events on the track while I take care of the field events.

"His energy level is exceptional and he cares about the kids as if they were his own kids."

That's what makes it so difficult for Harris to leave.

Butler had 128 girls in its track and field program last spring. Eighty-three were either sophomores or freshmen. The track and field program had approximately 250 athletes overall.

"The hardest thing about leaving is saying goodbye to the kids," Harris said. "Watching young kids mature into young adults is one of the greatest benefits of coaching.

"They commit so much time and effort to you as athletes. When you tell them you're leaving for something bigger or better in your life ... They're happy for you, but it's hard for them to understand at the same time. You feel like you're letting them down."

Harris has spent his last eight seasons in the Butler track and field program, the first two as an assistant coach.

He admitted that the standard of success is high in the program.

"It gets harder and harder to maintain that standard as more and more kids commit 12 months to a year in one sport, whether it's soccer, basketball, or whatever," Harris said.

"There aren't as many multi-sport athletes in high school anymore and track programs suffer because of it. If you're athletic, there's 18 events in track and field. You'll find a home."

Harris recognizes he's leaving a talented and upcoming team behind.

"Paige Rittleman and Lexi Frost were two of our top three point scorers last year and they were freshmen," he said. "Our numbers have always been strong, but we were a little down on talent for a couple of years there. That's not the case anymore.

"Being an administrator now, I won't have the hands-on approach anymore that comes with coaching. That's the unfortunate thing."

Schontz said Harris did most of the preparatory work for major meets and "that will be hard to replace."

"He is tireless, a great organizer," Schontz said. "Rod couldn't pass up this (athletic director's) job. It's a chance to go home and do what he wants to do."

"Rick and I developed a great friendship here, far beyond the track," Harris said. "We confided in each other with problems. We worked together, made decisions together concerning the team and the program. We had a great relationship."

Harris will begin his duties at Milton on Thursday. Besides Schontz, Butler's track program has four assistant coaches and two volunteer coaches.

Harris' resignation was accepted by the school board Monday night.

"I'm sure our staff will undergo some restructuring, but nothing's been discussed yet," Schontz said. "The job opening will be posted and we'll go from there."