JEFFERSON TWP — Sean O'Donnell was named Knoch's varsity girls basketball coach Wednesday night at the South Butler School District board meeting.

O'Donnell, 28, succeeds Rob Greenleaf, who resigned after one year to take over as varsity boys basketball coach at Ford City.

"We were looking to bring stability back to the program and Sean gives us that," Knoch athletic director Josh Shoop said. "He is a teacher in the district and that weighed heavily in our decision."

O'Donnell was the only one of five applicants to be a teacher in the district. He teaches Social Studies at the middle school.

Shoop said the other finalist for the job lives in the district, but is not a teacher.

O'Donnell is in his fifth year as a teacher and coached Knoch's seventh grade boys basketball team the past three seasons. He is coaching the school's eighth grade girls team this fall.

He has also served as a volunteer assistant coach for Knoch's junior varsity baseball squad.

"This is my first priority now in terms of coaching and it will be a challenge," O'Donnell said. "We play in a tough section and we're getting a bit of a late start, too.

"I've already seen a lot of the girls in the gym, working out, running, doing their basketball stuff. The core of the team is working hard and that encourages and excites me as a coach."

O'Donnell graduated from St. Joseph's High School in 2000 and was a point guard for four section championship teams there. The team reached the WPIAL semifinals his junior year.

He graduated from Grove City College and was a pitcher on the Wolverines' baseball team for four years.

Shoop said he watches all of the teams in the South Butler district play.

"I've been impressed by Sean's teaching skills," Shoop said. "He's a solid fundamental coach who's not that far removed from being a player.

"Everybody needs their first shot. I was given mine. My dad (longtime Knoch coach Les Shoop) was given his. Sean deserves his shot. I believe he's the best man for this job."

Knoch's girls were 7-13 last season, 4-8 in section play. They lost five games by six or fewer points.