Now that we’re into a new year, here’s one final glance back at the old one.

We don’t hand out a coach of the year award, but it’s always fun trying to figure out who deserves to receive such an honor.

Our area saw plenty of success in athletics in 2010. Scott Heinauer led the Mars football team to 10 straight wins and a berth in the WPIAL semifinals.

Blair Gerlach coached an unbeaten Mars girls soccer team to a WPIAL title, while Steve Meyers led the Planets hockey team to its first state championship.

Butler boys tennis coach Dave Hartzell also won a state crown, and Golden Tornado boys lacrosse coach Ed Swierczyk won the WPIAL crown before stepping down.

Freeport’s Tom Phillips guided the Yellowjackets girls volleyball squad to an elusive WPIAL title and Grove City High’s Jeff Bell led the Eagles football team to an undefeated regular season.

All of these guys could be named coach of the year.

But my choice lies in a different direction.

Union football coach Dave Louder guided the Golden Knights to a 4-6 record. On the surface, that doesn’t look like much.

It spoke volumes.

Louder was a close friend of Al Pryor and has been a longtime assistant coach in the Union football program. Pryor had coached Union to its last winning season in the late 1990s and was in the process of rebuilding a program that had been struggling for a number of years.

Union dropped a 19-16 decision to Redbank Valley in its season opener. Pryor was ill and didn’t coach that night. Louder took the reins for him.

The following day, Pryor was found dead in his home. He had committed suicide.

Louder picked up the pieces for this stunned and saddened football team. The Golden Knights lost their next three games by scores of 44-16, 26-8 and 51-16.

They finished the year by winning four of their final six and narrowly missed out on what would have been Union’s first District 9 playoff appearance.

After losing one of his best friends, Louder had to put the emotions of his football team ahead of his own.

Coaching under these circumstances was the last thing he wanted to do.

Louder did what he had to do.

Because of that, Union’s football players received a life lesson that will benefit all of them over the long haul.

Time marches forward and everyone has to keep up with the pace regardless of the cards we’re dealt.

Obviously, Union was dealt a tough hand. Louder stepped in and played it masterfully.

The Golden Knights football program has moved on. Whether Louder stays on the job — or how long he stays on the job — is totally up to him.

He made the most of a nightmarish situation in 2010.

Coach of the year? He has my vote.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle