BUFFALO TWP — Former Butler High coach Gene Rodgers was named Freeport's boys basketball coach at a school board meeting Wednesday night.

Mike Beale resigned as Freeport coach after posting a 50-35 career record over four years. He guided the Yellowjackets to the WPIALClass AAplayoffs three times.

Freeport finished 13-9 last year, but graduated five senior starters, four of whom averaged in double figures.

Beale resigned a month ago, citing family reasons.

"We didn't get a lot of applications at this time of year,"Freeport athletic director Bill Reilly said. "Gene's certainly stood out."

Rodgers, who also served as Slippery Rock High's girls basketball coach for three years, was Butler's boys coach for three seasons. He guided the Golden Tornado to the WPIALClass AAAAfinals in 1999-2000, losing to Penn Hills.

Butler finished 20-9 that season, but compiled records of 6-18 and 7-17 the following two years. Current Butler coach Joe Lewandowski replaced Rodgers after the 2001-02 campaign.

Rodgers moved on to coach the girls team at Slippery Rock, where he guided the Rockets to a 57-19 record over three seasons, including a 21-7 mark in 2005-06 that featured the program's first state tournament berth in 10 years.

Rodgers was not rehired by Slippery Rock last year and was replaced by Adrienne Orris. He spent last season as an assistant coach at George Junior Republic in District 10.

"We hired him as a team, it wasn't just me,"Reilly said. "We see a guy who has more than 20 years in as a high school basketball coach. He brings a lot of experience to the program."

Rodgers could not be reached for comment.