Knoch head coach Josh Shoop claps after a basket as he got his first win as head coach over Indiana during a game at Knoch on Monday December 20, 2010.

JEFFERSON TWP — Knoch is looking for a new athletic director and boys basketball coach.

Josh Shoop, 39, is resigning both positions to become athletic director at Pine-Richland High School.

His resignation as athletic director — a position he'd held at Knoch since 2003 — was accepted at Wednesday night's South Butler school board meeting.

“I'm still running our summer basketball program right now, along with the gym portion of our summer recreation program,” Shoop said. “They haven't asked me for my basketball resignation yet, maybe for that reason.

“I'm more than happy to do what Knoch needs me to do. I'll help the transition any way I can.”

Shoop is replacing Clair Altemus, who retired as Pine-Richland A.D. after 15 years of handling that post. Altemus, who turned 60 in March, will be entering his 16th season as the Rams' head varsity football coach.

Altemus has a 38-year career in education. He has also coached at North Allegheny, Seneca Valley and Grove City.

“It was time to give something up and I decided in February to retire as athletic director,” he said. “I'm looking forward to working with Josh. He is a fine, young athletic director and will serve this district well.

“Our superintendent wanted the new athletic director to serve strictly as an administrator.”

Shoop was chosen out of 103 applicants for the position.

“I feel honored,” he said. “I love Knoch. There's only a couple of places I ever would have considered leaving this district for and Pine-Richland is one of them.

“It's Quad-A, it's nearby and it's a high quality athletic program with quality coaches. I was happy just going through the interview process. It was very in-depth.”

The Shoop family has a long history at Knoch. Shoop's father, Les, won 299 games in 23 years as boys basketball coach with the Knights. All three of his sons played there.

The Knights were 18-24 in two years under Josh Shoop, including a WPIAL Class AAA playoff berth this year.

“It's a tough decision to leave,” Shoop said. “My family does have history here, but it's the people I'll miss. When you've been at a school for 10 years, you meet a lot of very good people.

“This is definitely bittersweet for me. But opportunities like this ... There's no guarantee it will ever come around again.”

Shoop described Altemus as “a class act, a good friend for a long time.”

Shoop did not indicate whether he will be involved in the selection process for Knoch's next boys basketball coach.

“I obviously know the program and the kids,” he said. “If the district wants my help, they will certainly get it. If South Butler feels a need to move on and leave me out of it, that's OK, too.”

Shoop said he has no plans to look for any other jobs in the near future.

“I hope I retire there,” he said of Pine-Richland. “I'm extremely excited about this new opportunity.”