Talk about staying power.

Former Butler High School gymnastics coach and Butler County Sports Hall of Famer Dave McKinnis has influenced one family of gymnasts for decades.

“He is a coach for life,” said Mel Collins, 67, of Harrisburg.

Mel is one of eight brothers coached by McKinnis at Butler. Six of them went on to compete in gymnastics in college.

Mel and Dave Collins went on to Georgia Southern, Kevin went to Northern Illinois, Jeff and Lou to Slippery Rock, Scott to the Penn State College of Technology.

Dean Collins went to Butler County Community College. Terry did not attend college.

“My mother graduated from high school and my dad eighth grade before he went to work. He had to walk to grade school,” Dave Collins said. “We didn't have an educational background growing up.

“Coach McKinnis always encouraged us to go on to college. He made us work on that. He gave us the confidence we could do it.”

While the late Tom and Dorothy Collins did not advance deep in education, McKinnis thought enough of them to make them godparents to his son, Jesse.

“They were excellent, excellent people,” McKinnis said. “They were so family-oriented in everything they did. They had a strong family as a result.

“They raised outstanding kids. All of them have experienced success in the fields they entered.”

Two of the brothers went on to work for PennDOT, another went on to AK Steel, another became a school teacher. One is a residential builder and land developer, another a corporate accountant.

All have kept in touch with McKinnis for more than 50 years.

“He's been like a brother to all of us,” Kevin Collins said. “He helped set up our education, set up our lives.

“Dave McKinnis was more than a coach. He was there ... always there if you needed him for anything.”

McKinnis attended Collins family weddings and birthdays. Because Tom and Dorothy Collins were godparents to Jesse McKinnis, the group has gotten together for many occasions involving him as well.

The Collins brothers now have 16 children of their own, 12 of whom have graduated from college.

“Dave got all of that started,” Kevin said. “When we first got to high school, he saw the (gymnastics) talent in each one of us. He was very patient with us.

“We'd make a mistake and he'd tell us it's OK, just move on. Keep going forward. He convinced us all we'd be able to do this. He was a comforter.”

Mel emphasized how good their parents were as well.

“We had great parents that loved, cared and supported us as a family and an excellent coach to back them up,” he said.

McKinnis marvels at the Collins' family reunions.

“They are just unbelievable,” he said. “It's been an honor, all the time I've been able to spend with that family.

“I remember the first brothers to come through our program. It was tough back then. Sometimes the only way they could get to practice was by thumb. But they got there.”

Dave and Mel traveled and competed with Russian and West German International gymnastic teams. Kevin competed in the 1980 Olympic tryouts.

“It's his human qualities that made him a great coach,” Kevin said of McKinnis. “Always be creative, be passionate and be a lifelong learner. Those were his lessons.

“He didn't coach you as an athlete. He coached you as a person.”

McKinnis said getting high school athletes opportunities at college scholarships was totally different 50 years ago as opposed to today.

“It was difficult. You really had to work to find them,” he said. “I got the help of guidance counselors, sent out videos, made sure people were aware of their talents.

“Gymnastics gave those guys focus. They saw what they could accomplish and chased after it.”

Kevin said McKinnis “made sure our teams had tough competition.

“He told us that's what we needed, that we had to push ourselves,” Kevin said. “Dave is a very inspirational person. His theme was, 'Don't stop here. Continue on. Things will work out for you.' And he was right.”

Dave agreed.

“He builds up your confidence through sports,” Dave said. “He wasn't only instrumental in us getting those scholarships, he convinced us we could excel once we got there.”

Student-athletes go through high school athletic programs and move on. Most times, their prep coaches become memories.

McKinnis remains a vibrant part of the Collins brothers' lives.

“He's still teaching us, he's still a part of us,” Mel Collins said. “We're still moving forward and he's still right behind us.”