ADAMS TWP — The Mars football program was hurting. Scott Heinauer wanted to heal it.

So when he arrived to interview for the vacant head coaching position 24 years ago, he brought some company.

“I brought a few guys who were going to be my assistant coaches,” Heinauer recalled. “They were all teachers at Mars. I said this was the group that could turn this program around.”

Brian Hobaugh and Terry Dillner were among the prospective assistants Heinauer brought along.

“I remember that day,” Dillner said. “Scott brought four or five of us with him. We all met in the library.”

Twenty-four years later, Hobaugh and Dillner are still on Heinauer’s staff with the Planets.

And the program has more than turned around.

Heinauer is 166-93 in 24 years as Mars head coach. He has led the Planets to nine section titles and the WPIAL playoffs 19 times. He will be inducted into the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame as part of the Big 33 Football Classic June 18 at HersheyPark Stadium.

Heinauer inherited a program that was 6-43-1 in the previous five seasons, “sporting the most losses in the WPIAL at the time,” Dillner said.

Mars was 1-9 in Heinauer’s first season, defeating Neshannock 15-12 in the opener and never winning again that year. Four years later, he had Mars playing in the WPIAL championship game at Three Rivers Stadium.

“I knew we could get it done if we installed a plan and stuck to our guns,” Heinauer said. “We’ve won through the same group of dedicated coaches and by running the same offense and defense throughout the system.

“We have a play called the 610 trap. Our kids run that play the same way in 12th grade as they ran it in seventh grade.”

Heinauer has been athletic director at Mars for 28 years. During his tenure, the school’s athletic program has won more than 100 section championships, along with 18 WPIAL and three PIAA crowns.

“We’ve had a lot of quality, loyal coaches in place here for a long time in a lot of sports,” Heinauer said. “That’s the key. The kids believe in these coaches and buy into what we’re doing.

“Our sports teams mean a lot to this community. It’s not just parents and relatives of our athletes who come to these games. The community support is overwhelming and success on the field is contagious.”

A coach must have more than 15 years of service or 100 career victories to be eligible for induction into the PSFCA Hall of Fame.

Four other coaches — Greg Botta of Franklin Regional, Mike Zmijanac of Aliquippa, Nick Donato of North Pocono and Scranton Prep, Phil Kauffman of Cocalico — are joining Heinauer in gaining induction into the Hall.

“It’s a great honor, joining the list of coaches who are already in there,” Heinauer said. “You look at Art Bernardi from Butler, Lindy Lauro from New Castle ... This stuff usually happens when you’re retired.

“I plan to coach. I plan to be here. I’m not going anywhere for a while.”

Besides coaching, and serving as athletic director, Heinauer has been a member of the PIAA Board of Control and WPIAL Board of Control. He has also been president and vice president of the WPIAL’s Athletic Director’s Association, among other offices.

“The guy is a leader,” Dillner said. “He definitely deserves this honor. He’s dedicated himself to youth sports and to young people.

“Mars is very, very lucky to have him.”