Coaches Nathan and Matthew Snider were on opposing sides Wednesday, April 20 as their respective teams — the Greensburg Salem Golden Lions and the visiting Hempfield Area Spartans — faced off in a varsity track meet.
But before the running and jumping began, the two brothers shared a sense of pride and gratitude as the Greensburg Salem High School track and field complex was dedicated in memory of their father and fellow coach, the late Steve Snider.
“It’s awe-inspiring the response the community has shown toward our family as a result of my dad,” Matthew Snider said. The younger Snider was a middle school track coach at Hempfield Area before moving into a volunteer position at the district’s senior high, where his children — Julia, a junior, and Luke, a freshman — compete in track.
The brothers have taken inspiration from their father and his decades-long track and cross country coaching career as they’ve followed in his footsteps.
“Everything I do I try to model after him, from the way I raise my kids to the way I coach,” Matthew said.
My whole life is trying to be like him, which is an impossible feat,” said his brother, who is the cross country and head girls’ track coach at Greensburg Salem. Like his father, Nathan said, “I love doing what I’m doing. That has been very beneficial to me.”
Steven Snider died Feb. 28, at age 72, after a long battle with heart complications.
During his 28 years at the helm of Greensburg Salem’s cross country teams, he racked up a combined 548 wins and two WPIAL titles. His track teams achieved 248 wins and four county championships.
After teaching physical education and health at Greensburg Salem for 36 years, he joined the faculty of Trinity Christian School for five years. He also coached track and cross country at Saint Vincent College for 12 years.
According to his former colleagues and athletes, a positive outlook and motivational approach were among Steven Snider’s outstanding qualities.
“If you achieved something, no matter how minor, you were celebrated,” said Greensburg Salem Athletic Director Frank Sundry. “When you were successful, he wanted everyone to know.”
Snider could make young athletes believe every day was “a beautiful day” — even at a track meet where it was snowing or raining, according to George Kemerer, a former Greensburg Salem coach who worked alongside Snider for 37 years.
“His pre-meet speeches were inspiring and moving,” Kemerer said.
Greensburg Salem High School Principal David Zilli noted Snider’s belief in a “beautiful day” was “an approach to living, a mindset he instilled in those he touched.”
Zilli said Snider inspired others “to become successful parents, professionals and community members. We are a stronger community today because of his lasting influence.”
