Rochester head coach Gene Matsook has called it a career. He announced his retirement from coaching to KDKA Radio's Rob Pratte in a Facebook video Thursday night.
"I had been debating over this the last five years and I felt once I got to the 25 year mark, I think would be a good time. So I kind of had a plan with that. I took it one year at a time," said Matsook.
Matsook took over the head coaching duties in 2000 from his brother, Dan.
The Rams won 218 games under Matsook in his 25 years as the head coach. (218-80). Their last WPIAL championship came in 2004, when they defeated the Clairton Bears 15-14. They have won eight total.
"I haven't really sat down and thought about it now. In another month or so I'll probably be thinking about how long we've been here. I know Danny started the program for 14 years. I took over from there, I've been here for 39 years. Never in my imagination did I think I'd be here this long," said Matsook.
Matsook reflected on his life in Rochester and what it has meant to him.
"I've been here most of my life. I graduated from Shenango High School and then I come down here when Danny took over in 1986. The community has been special all the way through. Great support, great people. You go this long, you know everybody," said Matsook. "I was really fortunate and blessed to be able to share the success we had with this great community."