GREENSBURG,PA - Seton Hill University Athletic Director and Head Women’s Soccer Coach John Fogle has announced the hiring of Gary Butkovich as an assistant coach for Women’s Soccer for the 2003-04 academic year. Butkovich brings a decorated resume of coaching experience to Seton Hill, which includes stints at the high school, collegiate, and club levels.

Butkovich, a North Huntingdon native, headed the men’s soccer program at Norwin High School from 1978-1986. His time at Norwin was highlighted by six Section 1 championships and two Section 1 co-championships. He then moved on to St. Vincent College, where he became the head coach of the men’s program from 1987-1995, and the head women’s coach from 1994-1997. During his tenure at St. Vincent from 1987-1997, the Bearcats captured two NAIA District 18 Championships, which landed Gary the 1989 NAIA Soccer Coach of the Year award. Butkovich’s most recent success came as the assistant girls coach at Penn Trafford High School. Since his arrival in 1998, Penn Trafford recorded three Section I championships, two WPIAL runner-up finishes and 1 PIAA runner-up finish.

Butkovich has also been active in the club soccer scene, manning coaching positions with the Norwin Soccer Club for ten seasons, the Monroeville Soccer Club for three seasons, and the Foothills Soccer Club for two seasons. He is currently running the under-12 and under-19 squads for the Penns Forest AC’s, a position that he has held since 1984. His club coaching career includes 2 PA West Championships with Norwin, 2 with Penns Forest, 2 with Monroeville, and 1 with the Foothills Soccer Club. In addition, Gary has helped run the PA West Olympic Development program for the last 13 years.

Butkovich received his USSF “B” license in 1986 and most recently received his NSCAA national diploma in 2002 and advanced diploma in 2003. Seton Hill head coach John Fogle believes Butkovich’s experience will pay huge dividends for the Griffins in the immediate future. He says “Gary is without a doubt the prominent soccer guru of the area. Adding him to our staff is a huge step forward for our program that I know will elevate our level of play, as well as the talent that we bring into our program in the coming years. There is no better man out there to bring to Seton Hill.”

The Seton Hill University Women’s Soccer team finished the 2002 season with an 11-9 overall record and 6-2 mark in the American Mideast Conference, good for third place in the North Division.