It was unlikely that in the sweltering heat at preseason camp this summer, any player on the girls' or boys' soccer teams at Center High School was complaining to their head coach about being tired.

After practicing 8-10 a.m. the boys' team would go home for a few hours. The girls' team would then practice from 10 a.m. until noon before being excused.

When the boys reported back to practice at 1 p.m., their coach was still there -- he never left.

Such is the life of Mark Perry, who this winter was named the girls' head coach at Center in addition to already holding the title of boys' head coach, a position he has handled the past three seasons. Perry went from coaching soccer year-round to also coaching it around the clock.

Once the boys were done for the day at 2:45 p.m., Perry was far from done. The girls would return for their second practice session and go until 4:30 p.m. Once all his players were done practicing for the day and headed home, Perry would go coach his soccer club, Stars United.

Perry would occasionally arrive back home at 9 p.m. just in time to eat, get to bed and do it all over again the next day.

"That is what I do for a living; I coach soccer year-round," Perry said.

"Camp was a tough two weeks. Really ... all summer has been pretty hectic, trying to get both teams organized, but so far it has been about what I expected. I knew I would be on the field eight or nine hours a day. I was just hoping for some cooler weather."

In his 22 years coaching in the WPIAL from Hampton to Fox Chapel and now Center, Perry, 45, has enjoyed tremendous success. His team's have made 21 WPIAL playoff appearances, captured 16 section titles and made appearances in seven WPIAL title games, winning three of them.

In his short time at Center, Perry, a Springdale High School and Wheeling Jesuit University graduate, has brought three section titles in three years to the program and amassed a 51-11-3 record. So, as unconventional of a coaching gig as it seemed at the time, to coach both boys and girls in the same season, it must have also seemed like a no-brainer for the district to offer the job to Perry when it became open.

With the dual coaching responsibilities, undertaking a rebuilding project was not an option but the girls' team was far from an empty cupboard. The Trojans girls had won 36 games the past three seasons and had reached the playoffs every year since Perry had been coaching the boys.

"I knew the girls had a lot of returning talent and had a chance to have a real special year," Perry said.

"I knew nobody had ever [coached] both boys and girls before and that was sort of a challenge for me."

The part about coaching girls was not a big obstacle for Perry as he coaches them regularly with his club team. He had even coached some of Center's current players on the girls' side.

Both seasons Perry is about to undertake will represent the last season of Center soccer. Next year Center will merge with Monaca and form Central Valley High School. The major difference for Perry and his teams will be the name change, considering Monaca does not have a high school soccer program.

"In all sports at Center it is the last chance," Perry said. "Everyone wants to have a positive season as we move onto the next step."

On both teams the pieces are in place for successful seasons. The boys' team returns all-state player Luca Campos, a senior forward/midfielder along with four three-year starters in midfielders Jake Grossi and Michael Battisti and defenders Michael Biskup and Alex Munroe. Another returning starter is junior midfielder Nick Piccirilli.

The girls' team is a little younger with only five seniors on the roster. Two seniors who will start are All-WPIAL forward Madison Taylor and all-section midfielder Addie Lucci. Junior goalie Alex Watts and forwards Hannah Wytiaz, Megan Hampe and Courtney Miller are other top players.

Perry said he has about 17 or 18 girls who could realistically start and is still in the process of forming a starting lineup.

In terms of the regular season, scheduling during weekdays should not be a major problem for Perry. Girls' games are generally played Monday and Wednesday with the boys playing Tuesday and Thursday. Saturdays could provide some conflicts.

On the first day of the regular season, Perry will be put to the test right away.

Saturday, Perry will coach the boys' varsity team at noon in a home game against Moon Area and then the junior varsity boys at 2 p.m. He will then take about a 45-minute bus ride to Seneca Valley to coach the Center girls in a 7 p.m. game.

Center High School's Luca Campos, right, battles Ambridge's Frank Maiolo for a ball in the air in a match last season.