BUTLER TWP — A three-sport athlete at Mon Valley Catholic, Lew Liparulo clearly knew sports.

But volleyball wasn't one of them.

Liparulo was a football player, wrestler and track and field athlete growing up. He didn't know a thing about volleyball when he took over as Butler High School girls coach in 1978.

“I never intended to go into coaching at all,” Liparulo, 67, admitted. “When I first came to the Butler district, they asked me if I'd be interested in coaching a sport and I said no. I didn't think I'd have the time for it.

“Butler girls volleyball needed a coach in 1978 and I said I'd give it a try. I was paid $300 to coach volleyball and I knew nothing about it, other than carrying around a little handbook.”

Liparulo wound up coaching the Golden Tornado gierls from 1978 through 2005,. He is the first and only Butler boys volleyball coach, starting the program in 1994 and entering his 26th year at the helm.

All of those volleyball years — along with dedication to Butler youth sports — is landing Liparulo in the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame. He will be inducted at the BCSHOF's annual banquet at 6 p.m. April 13 at the Butler Days Inn.

“It feels good to be noticed like that,” Liparulo said of his induction. “I never expected anything like this to happen.

“I'm a little uncomfortable, to be honest. I'm not sure I deserve this.”

His numbers suggest otherwise.

Liparulo taught physical education at the elementary school level in Butler for 41 years, retiring in 2015. He initiated and coordinated the Butler Area Sixth Grade Track Meet for 36 years, initiated and coordinated the Butler Area Sixth Grade Volleyball Tournament for 27 years.

“That turned into a huge event,” he said of the volleyball tourney. “We'd get as many as 70 teams to participate. It helped us grow the sport in the district.”

Liparulo was also a varsity assistant wrestling coach, junior high head wrestling coach and junior high track coach. He has volunteered as a recreational and travel soccer coach, youth league basketball and baseball, served as a soccer board member, did work with the Butler sixth grade cross country meet and with the Butler Road Race.

Not bad for a guy who didn't want to get into coaching.

“You want to get something done, ask a person who's busy,” Liparulo said, laughing.

He has turned the Tornado boys volleyball program into a consistent winner. Liparulo has more than 200 wins in the past 14 years, reaching the WPIAL playoffs 12 times during that stretch.

“I'm thankful the district was willing to begin a boys team and give these kids a chance to play,” Liparulo said. “We had a record number of kids trying out this year. I like to think I've had a good, positive affect on a lot of kids through the years.”

Liparulo was a lineman as a football player and played for a year at Slippery Rock University. Hefinished runner-up in the Pittsburgh Diocese as a wrestler.

He competed in the pole vault in track and field.

“I reached 10 feet, which doesn't sound like much, but that was with a steel pole and sawdust pits,” Liparulo said. “That's what the event was like when I competed.”

He said he's noticed a difference in male and female high school athletes, having coached both for so many years.

“The girls work very hard toward perfection, but aren't as competitive,” he said. “Boys want to compete, but don't want to refine. I'll say this, though. All of that seems to be changing in recent years.”

Liparulo is unsure whether he will coach beyond this season.

“After it's done, I'll sit back with my family and reassess things,” he said. “No matter when I choose to leave, I know I'll miss it.”

Tickets for the banquet are $40 in advance and are available at Moses Jewelers at the Clearview Mall, Butler Radio Network on Pillow St., Parker Appliance in Chicora, Snack n Pack in Butler and Saxonburg Drug. Tickets will be $45 at the door.