Garry Cathell

Former Butler varsity football coach Garry Cathell is being inducted into the Pennsylvania State Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Cathell, 58, was 18-32 in five years with Butler from 2002 trough 2006. His overall high school record was 107-132-4 over 25 years, having also coached at West Point (Va.), Peters Township and Elizabeth Forward.

He is now retired from teaching and coaching.

“People are going to wonder why I’m being inducted with a losing record,” Cathell said. “It’s more my work with the association than anything else.

“But I do meet the criteria and I’m proud of the work I’ve done. I worked with a lot of good people. I always did what was right for kids.”

The criteria for induction include coaching for at least 20 years and compiling at least 100 wins. This marks the 28th induction year for the Hall, which houses 252 members.

Cathell spent two years as president of the PSFCA, has been on the state board for 23 years and is currently executive director of the high school football coaches association.

He started two all-star games that still exist today — the Tri-County Coaches Association All-Star Game and the Pennsylvania East-West Game.

Cathell guided Peters Township to five WPIAL playoff appearances in 13 years at the helm. He led Elizabeth Forward to a 5-4 record in his second season, ending a string of losing seasons there.

“The school in Virginia was the only program I took over that had a winning record the year before,” Cathell said. “I took on challenges, but for me, it was all about just getting a job. I always wanted to coach.”

He added that the people he worked with in Butler are among his fondest memories as Golden Tornado head coach.

“I had a lot of support when I was there,” Cathell said. “The staff I had really made things easier for me.

“Our win over North Allegheny at home, (quarterback) Nick Monteleone’s huge game against Seneca Valley in the rain, having the chance to coach players like Tyrell Sales and Nate Hartung, I’ll never forget any of that. I still keep in touch with many of my former Butler players.”

Cathell is one of the founders of the Butler Football Hometown Heros organization.

“It’s important to recognize the people behind the storied history of that program,” he said.

Jim Rankin — Butler’s head coach in 2010 — and current Tornado coach Clyde Conti are members of the PSFCA Hall of Fame.

Cathell will be inducted during a 12:30 p.m. ceremony at the Holiday Inn in East Harrisburg on June 15. The inductees will also be recognized on the field at the Big 33 All-Star Game that night.