SLIPPERY ROCK — Glenn Hazlet has an interim tag on his football coaching title at Slippery Rock High.

But that is just a formality, said Slippery Rock athletic director Dan Szolek.

"We are contractually obligated to post the position," Szolek said. "In order to get someone in immediately, we needed to name that person on an interim basis. Glenn will be the coach for the remainder of the football season. That's my understanding of the situation."

Hazlet was named interim head football coach at the school board meeting Monday night.

Joe Lamenza, who was hired in March, resigned, citing a schedule conflict between his teaching job in the Beaver Area School District and his coaching responsibilities at Slippery Rock.

Lamenza also was upset he wasn't hired to fill teaching vacancies in the Slippery Rock School District after he was brought in as the head football coach.

Hazlet, 64, a Navy veteran and a teacher in the Slippery Rock district, was an assistant under former Slippery Rock football coaches Brendan Smith and Clyde Conti. He also was on Lamenza's staff.

Hazlet was an assistant coach at Karns City for five years and also coached youth football in Slippery Rock for 17 seasons.

In all, he has 31 years of coaching experience.

He is known by his players as "Pops," a nickname that stuck from his days at Karns City.

After Conti resigned, Hazlet was one of the more than 20 applicants for the job.

"We are certainly pleased to have Glenn on board," Szolek said. "He was the most logical choice. It's an unfortunate situation, but with Glenn, he can hit the ground running."

Hazlet said he will do little more than tweak what Lamenza had installed in his four-plus months on the job.

His biggest asset is his familiarity with the program.

"Some of the kids on the team right now, their dads played for me," Hazlet said.

Hazlet met with his team early Tuesday morning.

"I (talked) to the kids and (reassured) them that we were going to continue doing what we are doing," Hazlet said. "We're going to keep rowing the boat."

While the circumstances that brought Hazlet to the job were not ideal, he said he is excited about the opportunity.

"I appreciate the board and the administration for the confidence they have in me," Hazlet said. "We have good kids and I'm fortunate to be working with them."

Szolek said assistant coaches Bud Sarver, Brian Graham, Josh Kniess and Jeremiah Walker will remain and the vacancy created by Hazlet's promotion will be filled.