Latrobe athletic director to retire, will continue role as wrestling coach

Mark Mears’ days as an administrator at Latrobe are nearing an end, but not his involvement with the district’s wrestling program.

The school board this week accepted Mears’ retirement as the district’s athletic director, a post he has held for about 11 years. The resignation will take effect Aug. 6. But Mears said he plans to carry on as wrestling coach, a role he assumed in May after a previous nine-year stint on the wrestling staff.

“I’ve completed 20-some years of coaching,” Mears said. “That will be a way to stay in touch with the district and stay involved with the kids.”

It will afford him an up-close view of the high school wrestling career of his youngest son, Brock, who is in eighth grade.

“That’s a neat thing,” Mears said. “I’ll be able to see his career as his coach, which could become quite interesting.”

Mears previously was an assistant high school coach and the junior high coach with Latrobe’s wrestling staff. He also coached wrestling from 2002-08 at his alma mater, Mt. Pleasant, where the Vikings captured three WPIAL Class AA team titles.

Mears, 55, said the time is right for him to retire as an administrator.

“I want to be able to do some things while I still can, not look back in 10 years and say, ‘Now I can’t,’ ” he said.

In between coaching duties, he wants to spend more time with his family and enjoying the outdoors.

“I would like to go West and do some hunting,” he said.

For 12 years, Mears has organized Friday Night Lights, an annual preseason practice for the Pittsburgh Steelers that typically draws a large crowd to Memorial Stadium in Latrobe. Last year’s event was canceled because of the covid-19 pandemic, but Mears is hoping it can return this August.

“I would actually retire on Steeler Night,” he noted.

Another highlight during Mears’ tenure at Latrobe has been completion of a $9 million athletic complex on the high school campus.

“When you see it in operation, it’s great for the kids,” he said.

Mears is marking 31 years of service at Latrobe, where he spent his first 17 years as a special education teacher. Since moving to the administrative staff, he also has served as transportation director.

The school board also accepted the retirement resignations of two veteran senior high faculty members, effective June 7. English instructor Patrick Murray also has coached football and track. Math teacher Mark Schrecengost has coached basketball.