Longtime Butler High coach retires
BUTLER TWP — After almost 40 years of coaching — including the last 17 as Butler High School's boys track coach — Rick Schontz is calling it a career.
Schontz, 65, retired from teaching in Butler five years ago. He is officially resigning as track coach now.
“I want to spend more time with my grandchildren,” Schontz said. “They all live outside of the area, so doing that while continuing to coach is just too difficult.
“They are starting to get involved in sports themselves and I want to be able to watch some of that.”
Schontz has been a coach in the Butler Area School District since arriving here 38 years ago.
Besides serving as head boys track coach, Schontz spent many years as an assistant and coaching at the junior high level. He has also spent 22 years on football coaching staffs in Butler at the junior high, JV and varsity levels.
“Coaching track takes up a lot of Saturday time, hours after school ... I just can't make that commitment anymore,” Schontz said.
His boys track teams reached the WPIAL team playoffs in 14 of his 17 years as head coach. Schontz has coached numerous athletes to WPIAL and PIAA medals.
Read the full story in the Butler Eagle.
