In the dugout, at the side of Shaler Area High School baseball coach Jerry Matulevic for most of his 519 career wins, was assistant coach Carl E. Seidl Jr., preaching the fundamentals of the game and developing teenagers into the best players they could be.

Mr. Seidl died Sunday at his home in Shaler. He was 59.

"He loved kids. He was really good fundamentally as a coach," Mr. Matulevic said of his longtime friend and co-worker. "He was always kidding and joking around, but that was never so much in front of the kids."

Mr. Matulevic, who won three WPIAL Class AAA titles before retiring in 2002, was one of the few people who witnessed both the professional and personal sides of Mr. Seidl. The two shared an office during their time at Shaler and formed a special bond that stretched beyond the baseball diamond.

"We would talk over coffee and solve all the problems in the world," Mr. Matulevic said.

Mr. Seidl served in the Army during the Vietnam War, and was a coach and teacher for 32 years.

His wife, Sandra, said he began coaching wrestling at the elementary school level before moving to assistant football and baseball coaching positions at Shaler.

Mr. Seidl was also a health and physical education teacher, retiring in 2005, one year after he concluded his coaching career.

"I remember being 6, 7 or 8 years old, and I was a ball boy at Shaler football games," said Carl Seidl III, one of Mr. Seidl's four children. "Football was always his first love."

Mr. Seidl said his father made the most of his few, short years of retirement.

"Fishing and hunting -- he always loved being outside, loved being active, loved keeping busy," he said.

Mrs. Seidl said the highlight of her husband's post-coaching career was winning the RBC Walleye Fishing Tournament at Lake Erie.

With all the accomplishments Mr. Seidl had through athletics, Mr. Matulevic said it was something Mr. Seidl did away from sports that garnered the majority of his respect.

"I always respected him so much because he was a Vietnam War [veteran]," Mr. Matulevic said. "My father was in World War II, and I always respected someone who had served their country in that manner.

"Carl was very disciplined, good with kids and fun to be around. He'll be sorely missed."

In addition to his wife and son, he is survived by another son, David; two daughters, Rebecca Coyne and Katie London; siblings Sue Seidl, Beth Seidl, Gerri Seidl, Edward Seidl, Richard Seidl, Kathy Seiler, Robbie Sauter and Chris Jacobs; and one grandson.

Visitation will continue today from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. at Neely Funeral Home, 2208 Mount Royal Blvd., Shaler. Mass will be celebrated tomorrow at 10 a.m. in Holy Spirit Church, Millvale.