SLIPPERY ROCK — When Annessa (Schnur) Steele accepted a full-time position as a professor at Edinboro University, she never thought that opportunity would result in another one.

But it did.

The university was looking to expand its cross country and men's and women's track and field coaching staff.

Steele was a perfect fit after excelling on the track for Butler High School and then at the University of Michigan.

“It kind of just snowballed,” Steele said. “It happened very fast.

“I guess I'm coming out of retirement,” Steele added, laughing.

Steele coached the girls track and field team at Butler from 2010 until 2013.

As an athlete for the Golden Tornado, Steele torched the record books in the late 1990s until she graduated in 2000. Versatile, there wasn't an event on the track or a jump in the field that she didn't excel in.

Butler won the WPIAL title during all four years of her career there.

Steele earned eight medals at the PIAA Track and Field Championships and then went on to star for the Wolverines, where she helped the team to five consecutive Big Ten titles (one as a redshirt).

She's a member of the Butler High School and Butler County sports halls of fame.

Now, she's venturing into the world of college track and field coaching.

“We have a young and energetic staff,” Steele said. “I think it's a good fit.”

At first, Steele wondered if it would be.

With two kids at home and an hour commute from Slippery Rock to Edinboro, Steele wondered if her time constraints would make someone else a better candidate.

But Edinboro men's and women's track and field coach Anne Cleary and cross country coach Clayton Foster said they would work around Steele's schedule.

That was the clincher.

“The schedule is really flexible,” Steele said. “There are Division II athletes. We trust them to do the things they need to do on their off-days.”

Steele was already teaching online classes at Edinboro before the full-time position in the education department came open.

She's in the dissertation phase of her doctorate at Slippery Rock University.

After 14 years in the Butler Area School District as a teacher, Steele left in early June.

One of her responsibilities at Edinboro will be recruiting.

Steele said she hopes to tap into the wealth of talent in Butler County and the WPIAL.

“I love the sport and I enjoy following the high school kids,” Steele said. “We have a lot of kids (at Edinboro) from the northern part of Pennsylvania and New York and not a lot of kids from Western Pennsylvania and the WPIAL. I'm hoping to connect with a lot of Western Pa. coaches and get some kids from this area.”

Steele has kept up on the exploits of the Butler County area track and field athletes and has noticed her name slipping in the ranks on the all-time honor roll.

“Glory days are over,” she said, laughing. “It shows how far this sport had come. It makes me excited for the sport and look forward to how even better it can get. I hope we can get some of those kids to come to Edinboro.”

Steele plans on picking the ear of her former coaches at Michigan, who are still there.

“I keep in touch with them,” Steele said. “We reconnect at football games in the fall and I'll be blessed to have the opportunity to ask their advice and have their support.”