The perusal of recent help-wanted ads in local media outlets underlines what can be a difficult challenge for area school districts seeking individuals to coach their various athletic teams. While there are many voices coaching from the stands, hiring the right person to lead teams of teenage athletes on the field can be a painstaking process. When they have a good one, it becomes problematic when a replacement needs to be found.
That became the challenge for Muncy athletic director Curt Chilson when veteran football coach Sean Tetreault made the decision to step away from the sidelines after a successful 10-year run.
During his tenure, the chief Indian led his teams to five district championships, three silver medals, and four league championships while winning league or district titles in nine of his ten years on the southern Lycoming County reservation.
Admitting that football has been a part of his life since he was young, fatherhood and business responsibilities clashed with the demanding obligations of a football coach, signaling it was time to move on.
“There were several factors that led to my decision,” Tetreault explained. “My father owns a funeral home I help out with. My wife Rae Ellah (a field hockey coach and English teacher at Muncy High School) and I just had our first child (daughter Emery) in September, and it just became time for me to focus more on the family responsibilities. It became a time conflict, and it was going to be difficult for me to put in the time needed to keep pushing the football program in the direction it should be.”
Growing up, Tetreault played youth football, high school tennis, wrestled, and played football at Hughesville High School. He went on to play college football at Lebanon Valley as an offensive lineman. He capped his playing career with two years of professional football in the Arena League for the Pittsburgh Power.
“I developed an interest in coaching as my playing career ended. Over the years, I was blessed to have some remarkable coaches and have been excited to share the knowledge I learned from great coaches all across the county with the local talent we have here in Muncy.
“When I first got the job at Muncy as a 25-year-old, I reached out to Coach George Curry at Berwick and my old coaches at Lebanon Valley, who were great resources to have. Their collective advice was that you have to be true to who you are. If you don’t stand behind your core and your principles, the kids won’t get behind the things you are trying to do. So, I tried to be true and authentic and maintain those core principles the kids can get behind.
“I was very fortunate to start my coaching career at a young age when Muncy hired me. I believe I was the youngest head football coach in District IV at that time. As a young guy coming in, it was a challenge to establish the culture you would like. You go through some growing pains, but the school stuck behind me, the fans bought in, and it was great to see it happen at Muncy.
“I am most proud of all the kids we helped get through the doors at Muncy. All the records and all the wins are great to have, but what really means the most to me is seeing the teams all come together and the camaraderie and friendship they share with each other. Those things will last forever.
“The first district title, taking a team that was 4-6 during the season, provided a wonderful memory. They got hot at the right time and were able to beat two teams that had only lost one game all season long during the playoffs. That was the first District title for Muncy, and it got the community excited. That was the beginning of the tradition. We began to play winning football and competed for district titles.
“This past season, with our run to the state semi-finals, was a great journey and experience. The senior group we had was outstanding and had the district champion bug. We hadn’t won one in the years they played. They were excited for that opportunity. They believed in the process and what we were doing. It was great to see their belief in the system, and it really showed in the playoffs. They had tough teams they went up against and achieved some huge wins.”
It is ironic that state championship hopes for both Muncy and South Williamsport in 2017 ended with losses to state power Bishop Gilfoyle in semi-final games. The similarity of both defeats ended the record-setting careers of Austin Johnson and Dominick Bragalone, who established themselves as the best running backs in the history of the two schools.
“We talk all the time about believing in the name (Muncy) on the front of the jersey. We talk about the tradition and being a brotherhood. We focus on those things with our kids. No one person is bigger than the team, and everybody sacrifices and they all bought into what we were preaching. They worked hard, played hard, and it was great to see all the good things that happened as a result of their dedication to what we were doing.
The future awaits, and Tetreault seems ready to embrace it.
“With my new daughter and business responsibilities, I’ll be taking it one day at a time. My wife will continue to coach at Muncy. We live in Muncy, and we want to continue being a part of the community. It’s time to focus on family and work, have some fun, and enjoy some free time moving forward.”
