Longtime coach lends hand to players new to the sport on Penn Hills golf team

By: Josh Rizzo
Sunday, September 3, 2023 | 11:01 AM

Paul Jack still feels a deep connection with Penn Hills. Growing up, Jack was constantly around the district in various ways with his mom, Elfrida, who taught physical education at Penn Hills for 25 years.

“I grew up being dragged to Penn Hills football games,” Jack said. “My mom was the cheerleading sponsor and the girls athletic association sponsor. I was going to girls basketball games before the WPIAL stuff.”

That sense of community still resonates with Jack, a 1966 Springdale graduate who is a volunteer assistant with the Indians golf team. Jack, 75, has been an assistant coach with Penn Hills for three seasons.

Jack has served as a coach in some form or fashion for nearly 60 seasons. Thirty of those have been basketball. Jack still serves as an assistant coach with a high school in Midlothian, Va., which is where he spends his time in the winter.

Jack started coaching golf in the 1990s at Shady Side Academy. He also coached golf at Deer Lakes. Jack is a good fit for Penn Hills’ golf team, which features a lot of first-time golfers.

There is no playbook for developing skill in the sport. Everyone will need a different approach to help them feel comfortable on the golf course.

Jack said there is no No. 1 focus for beginners.

“The biggest focus is trying to get to the point where they are making contact and enjoying what they are doing,” Jack said. “The kids are all different shapes, sizes and have different abilities. There are all kinds of idiosyncrasies. Golf can be a real challenge. We want to get them to be where they post a score, play nine holes and finish. That’s a real challenge at times. So far, the kids have done well.”

Penn Hills’ team is in a transition year. Indians coach William Berkshire is taking a year off and Jay Mitlo was asked to step in.

Mitlo, who previously coached the boys and girls’ volleyball programs, was the medalist for Penn Hills’ golf program during his senior year. Athletic director Stephanie Strauss asked him to fill in for a year.

“Since I know how to coach, and know how to golf, she asked me to fill in for one year,” Mitlo said. “I played for Penn Hills and was medalist my senior year, so it’s an honor.”

Senior Ed Bowser is the Indians’ No. 1 golfer this year. Nicholas Hepler and Gavin Tierney are both juniors who have provided Penn Hills with some depth. Other seniors on the team include Joseph Lander and Ian Nadzan, who is a first-year player.

Mitlo has enjoyed seeing Jack interact with the players.

“Paul is an incredible asset to the program,” Mitlo said. “He is extremely knowledgeable, but also an excellent communicator. He equips the players with applicable information that they can employ to improve at practice and on their own.”

Kids involved with sports programs have changed over the years, but Jack doesn’t feel like his approach has changed too profoundly.

“I’ve been coaching for a long time,” Jack said. “I enjoy the interaction and the challenge of helping somebody learn a sport and appreciate the sport. I find it fun.”

Tags: Penn Hills