BUTLER TWP — Steve Perri stepped down as Butler varsity girls soccer coach with the program on a roll.

Brittni Grenninger is taking over the Golden Tornado with her coaching career on a bit of a roll itself.

The Karns City graduate was approved for the position at a school board meeting last month. She guided North Catholic to a 19-3 record last fall, including appearances in the WPIAL Class 2A championship game and PIAA semifinals.

Before that, Grenninger was an assistant coach for her father, Jim Grenninger, at her alma mater. She’s also served as head coach at Freeport, where she produced some playoff seasons.

“We feel very fortunate to get someone like Brittni,” Butler athletic director Bill Mylan said. “She’s from the area, was an outstanding player and has won everywhere she’s been.”

“North Catholic was a tremendous gig,” Grenninger said. “I worked with some amazing athletes there. I was apprehensive about throwing my hat in the ring for the Butler job, but this was a unique opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

Butler has been doing plenty of winning in its own right. Perri was head coach of the Tornado for 10 years and led Butler to the WPIAL playoffs in each of his last six seasons. Butler made the WPIAL championship game in 2020.

The Tornado were 37-11-5 over Perri’s last three seasons. The team finished 9-9 in 2015 and has posted winning seasons ever since.

“Steve did a great job here,” Mylan said. “He resigned for family reasons, to be more involved with his kids.”

Grenninger was one of eight to apply for the Butler job. She was one of three brought back for a second interview.

“I was one of the last to put my name in,” Grenninger said. “Working with Hot Spurs (club soccer), I work closely with (Butler) boys soccer coach Troy Mohney. Seeing Butler girls ages 4, 5 and 6 come through there, knowing I could be coaching and working with them all the way through ... It’s a chance to do something really special here.”

Grenninger played college soccer at Saint Francis after wrapping up a Karns City career that saw her become one of the most prolific scorers in Gremlins soccer history.

“She has a collegiate playing background, too, which is helpful to girls on our team who have interest in playing in college,” Mylan said.

Recognizing that Jeff Schnur still helps coach Butler boys soccer, Grenninger said she recalls watching his daughter, Meghan, play at Butler.

“Meghan Schnur was the player all young girls like myself aspired to be like,” she said. “Those were the glory days of Butler girls soccer, playing for championships ... I’d love to coach a group of girls from youth soccer all the way through high school who wind up doing something like that.

“Steve (Perri) did a great job at Butler, especially over the past few years. The hope is to continue forward with what he got going here.”