SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Larry Wendereusz has had his eye on the Slippery Rock High School football program for some time.

He will now get the chance to put his stamp on it.

Wendereusz was approved by the district’s school board Monday to become the Rockets’ next head coach.

“I applied for this job the last two times it was open,” Wendereusz said. “It’s a small-town atmosphere and I know what football can do for a community. I’m very excited about this opportunity.”

Wendereusz spent last fall as the defensive coordinator at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic under head coach Jason Gildon. He takes over at Slippery Rock for Travis Sarver, a former Rocket who guided the team to a 5-6 record and a District 10 Class AA playoff berth this past fall in his only year as head coach. Sarver resigned his post after the season.

The Rockets rarely threw the ball last season, but Ryan Lauster rushed for 1,376 yards and 12 touchdowns, Trent Porter 1,298 yards and 11 TDs under Sarver. Both rushed for over 100 yards in their season-ending playoff loss.

Slippery Rock athletic director John Osborne said the job attracted “around 30 applicants,” adding, “What set him (Wendereusz) apart was his experience, including the people he’s been associated with.”

Wendereusz, 42, played running back and defensive back at Seneca Valley before graduating in 1992. He later served as an assistant, mostly as defensive coordinator, at his alma mater beginning in 1995 under then-Raiders’ mentor Terry Henry. His 15 years on Seneca Valley’s staff also included stints under head coaches Mike Buchert, Bob Ceh and Don Holl, most recently in 2014.

“I was very fortunate to work with a lot of good, in some cases great head coaches,” Wendereusz said. “I saw different ways to deal with student athletes on and off the field. I’ve melded those together and my style will include the word ‘family’ coming out of my mouth time in and time out. I want our players to know that I care about them not just as football players, but as people as well.”

Wendereusz resides in Evans City and will remain the dean of students at Seneca Valley Middle School.

“Slippery Rock is close to home and I can stay put,” he said.

Impressed with the weight-lifting program already in place at Slippery Rock, Wendereusz said his first order of business is to put together his own coaching staff.

“I want to get the right guys, get ‘em on the bus and find seats for them,” he said. “I’ve already been in contact with some of them.”

When it comes to scheme, Wendereusz said it is too early to commit.

“It’s high school football and there are some things that we may not have the ability to run,” he said. “I’m flexible that way. It could be a week-to-week thing for us.”