JEFFERSON TWP — Mark McLaughlin decided after running the Rob Waller camp in June that it was time to step down.

Knoch High School wrestling will be looking for a new wrestling coach for the first time. McLaughlin helped get the program off the ground in 2006 and has been head coach since.

“I was getting worn down,” McLaughlin said. “I worked long hours in addition to the time I would spend at practice. I'm hoping to spend more time with family.”

McLaughlin hopes that the extra time will allow him to focus more on his accounting firm, Mark A. McLaughlin & Associates.

McLaughlin's son just started at the University of Pittsburgh and he wants to spend time with his two young grandchildren.

Knoch never made the team playoffs during his tenure and had its best team season in 2009-10, going 12-18 in duals.

During McLaughlin's tenure, the Knights had seven wrestlers win at least 20 matches in a season.

Brittney Faust, who now wrestles at King (Tenn.) College, became the first Knoch wrestler to move on to collegiate wrestling.

Faust started at Missouri Valley College before transferring to King.

“It was a blast, myself and my wife started the elementary program in 2000,” McLaughlin said. “Just like anything you start, it's fun and exciting. I just couldn't make it work.”