Ex-Penn-Trafford coach Tragesser takes football reins in Norwin
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The Norwin school board on Monday night unanimously selected former Penn-Trafford coach -- and longtime antagonist -- Art Tragesser to lead the varsity football program.
Mr. Tragesser, 62, was appointed as head coach and weight room and conditioning coordinator. He succeeds Dan Conwell, a guidance counselor at the high school, who was not retained after five seasons.
Norwin had a 5-5 record last season, failing to make the playoffs for a second year in a row.
The contract is for three years at annual salaries of $6,100 to coach and $4,100 to coordinate the two programs.
"I wanted to be a head football coach again," said Mr. Tragesser, of North Huntingdon. "Norwin is a great opportunity. I'm just thrilled to be working in a progressive school district with outstanding facilities."
Mr. Tragesser, a retired Penn-Trafford teacher, has compiled a 162-85-3 record in 23 seasons as a head coach. He had a 79-33-3 mark in 10 years at Jeannette, his alma mater, before moving to Penn-Trafford before the 1996 season. His Warriors teams went 83-52 and qualified for the playoffs 12 times in 13 years.
Mr. Tragesser resigned following the 2008 season -- and after winning 11 of 13 games against the neighboring Knights.
"My daughter, Ardie, and son, Matt, were students at Norwin during those years," he said. "I heard the Norwin alma mater being hummed all week of the Penn-Trafford-Norwin game."
He nearly got the Norwin job in 1994, when he was a finalist. Tim McCabe was hired.
"I've lived in the township for 40 years," Mr. Tragesser said. "I feel like I'm finally coming home."
Board President Robert Perkins is pleased with the hiring.
"Coach Tragesser's success has earned the respect of his peers throughout the state and his former players. We're fortunate that a coach of his caliber is interested in helping Norwin create a solid football program."
Mr. Tragesser believes that righting the Norwin program "won't be as great a challenge as many think."
"I'm not coming in to create a football program," he said. "That's here. We just have to expand on that.
"I know firsthand that Norwin players are tough, that they possess a desire to win and a pride in their community. My task will be to put all that together.
"I'll be encouraging kids to come out for football. We did that when I was on Joe Mucci's staff at Jeannette. We didn't convince Steve August to play until he was a senior. He was a first-round draft pick of the Seahawks. He played 11 seasons in the NFL."
Eli Visnic, former Franklin Regional head coach and Mr. Tragesser's assistant at Penn-Trafford for 13 years, will be Norwin's offensive coordinator, one of six varsity assistants.
"I will be looking in-house for some," Mr. Tragesser said. "I feel it's important to have teacher-coaches who are in the building with the guys."
Last autumn, Mr. Tragesser was an assistant to Ray Reitz, who was in his first season as Greater Latrobe's head coach.
First Published February 11, 2010 6:10 am
