SV grad Patsilevas relishes coaching Raiders
JACKSON TWP — With his football playing days long since finished, Shaine Patsilevas does not take for granted the opportunity to remain involved with the game.
The 2008 graduate of Seneca Valley is in his eighth year as an assistant coach with the Raiders. He works with the team’s defensive backfield and helped the team reach the WPIAL title game in 2016 and 2018.
It’s an area of the field he knows well after starting for three years at strong safety during current head coach Ron Butschle’s first stint with the team (2004-08).
“Being able to come back to my alma mater and help kids with football, but also mentor them, give them advice and try to steer them in the right direction, it’s something I look forward to every day.”
Patsilevas was part of the group that brought respectability back to Raider football. From 2003-06, SV had a combined overall record of 7-32 and 0-25 in conference play.
“Losing was new to me and the guys in my class,” he said. “The freshman team (in 2004) had a good year and then we joined varsity as sophomores and dealt with a lot of adversity. But we fought through it and Coach Butschle fought through it. We needed to mature and grow to compete and grind in (Class) 4A in the WPIAL.”
By his senior season, the pieces were in place for a return to postseason play. A four-game winning streak against conference foes North Hills, McDowell, Shaler and Butler earned for the Raiders a home playoff game.
But the biggest highlight of Patsilevas’ high school career came a few months earlier. He was the starting shortstop on SV’s 2007 baseball team that won a state championship.
“It’s been 15 years, but I still have people come up to me and ask me how I’m doing just because they recognize my name from that team,” he said. “I want kids to experience things like that.”
Patsilevas went on to earn an athletic scholarship and played baseball at Gannon University in Erie.
“Baseball was my first love, my first interest,” he said. “I thought about playing both sports at Gannon, but I was 5-9 and 175 pounds. Ultimately, I decided that focusing on baseball gave me the best chance to succeed.”
Butschle is grateful for the example Patsilevas provides to the current team.
“He was a great player and his football IQ is tremendous,” he said. “He understands me and the way our program is run. He’s smart and works hard and is the epitome of what I want our kids to emulate.”
Patsilevas said it’s easy to enjoy his involvement with the team when the head coach is so respected.
“Ron’s a special guy. He stays in contact with guys even after they go to college. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing for him now or if you played for him 17 years ago, Ron treats you like a son and looks out for you.”
Shaine Patsilevas and his wife, Leia, have an infant daughter, Sophia. The family resides in Evans City.
