ORWIGSBURG — To find the man to guide the future of its wrestling program, Blue Mountain turned to its past.
Jim Trusky, who had a three-year stint as the Eagles’ head coach in the early 2000s, was hired to the same position, Blue Mountain’s athletic department confirmed Monday.
The 51-year-old Trusky replaces J.J. Fasnacht, who resigned at the end of this past season.
Trusky teaches social studies at Blue Mountain High School. He and his wife have three children in the Blue Mountain district.
“I want to give back to the school district that has given so much to my family,’’ Trusky said. “It’s an opportunity to help kids.’’
Trusky has had a long and successful association with wrestling.
As a high school senior in 1982, Trusky won the PIAA Class AA championship at 185 pounds for Mahanoy Area. Paul Wartman was his high school coach.
“He had a big influence on me with the way he structured things, the way he treated (people),’’ Trusky said. “He was very good at strategy and (teaching) technique.’’
In addition to his time coaching at Blue Mountain, Trusky has had head coaching experience in New Jersey and for five years at Pocono Mountain.
For the past seven years, he’s stayed involved as a PIAA wrestling official.
“I haven’t left the sport, but I have a different perspective,’’ Trusky said.
During his previous stint as Blue Mountain’s coach, Trusky lived about an hour away and his family was much younger.
Now, his situation has changed.
“I felt like it was a good time,’’ he said. “I’m in the school. I live 1 mile from the school. ... It’s hard to run a program when you’re not in the building.’’
Trusky’s teams and wrestlers enjoyed a lot of success during his first tenure with the Eagles.
In his three seasons, Blue Mountain went 38-15 in dual meets, including 19-2 in Schuylkill League Division I action. The Eagles won the Division I title and the Schuylkill League Tournament team title in 2003.
He qualified wrestlers for states in Class AAA in each of his three seasons:
• 2001 — John Carr, second at 160; Matt Feast, first at 275;
• 2002 — Chris Renninger, eighth at 135;
• 2003 — Jeremy Cresswell, seventh at 103; Chris Renninger, third at 135; and Chris Banket, qualifier at 160.
“Wrestling is a sport for young men,’’ Trusky said. “It’s not a sport for parents. It’s not a sport for coaches. Anybody who coaches, it’s a privilege.’’