On March 12, boys basketball coach Ben O’Connor, decided to resign from the position.

O’Connor has coached Bethel Park for the past six seasons having much success. He lead the Hawks to the playoffs in four of those.

The main reason for Coach O’Connor resigning was to spend more time with his family.

In a recent interview with Mike White of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, O’Connor had this to this to say about his retirement: “I want to be involved with my kids, and I want to coach things they’re involved in. With my kids growing and my dad’s health, I said ‘OK, if you make a mistake by not coaching, but you’re a better dad and son, that’s OK.’ But if you make a mistake by coaching, then that’s not good.”

O’Connor still plans to coach, but his kids instead.

“It will just be on Little League fields, elementary school gyms and flag football.”

O’Connor has coached at a few other places before coming to Bethel.  He coached at Keystone Oaks for four seasons before accepting a job as an assistant coach at Westminster College. He coached there for two years before he moved on to be the head coach of Fox Chapel.  After coaching there for four years, was when he finally became the head coach of Bethel Park.

O’Connor had a 84-57 record at Bethel.

“The past four years at Bethel were the best. This is not a lifelong thing, never coaching again. For now, though, it’s the right call.”

Good luck to Coach O’Connor in the future.