ADAMS TWP — Joelle (Archer) Patterson found herself in charge of the entire Mars track program a few weeks before the season started.

Patterson, a 1989 Butler graduate, was forced to step in after Mars boys coach Aaron Rekich stepped down after taking a new job.

Mars girls coach Larry Young was still in Florida.

“I give the kids credit. They've been awesome,” Patterson said. “I told them what to do and they did it. We have great leaders with Ori Rinaman and Sydney Cole.”

Patterson will serve as the head girls coach for the Planets this season and Larry Young will shift over to the boys team.

The Mars girls were 6-1 and runners up in the section last year, earning a WPIAL playoff bid in the process.

The boys went 7-0 and finished in fourth place at the WPIAL Class AAA championships.

Young had convinced Patterson to come back as an assistant coach for the cross country team.

She had been out of coaching since 2011.

Young needed an assistant after Dale Boring left to take the coaching job at Washington & Jefferson College.

“I was in the middle school one day and saw her and talked to her about coming back,” Young said.

Patterson held the Golden Tornado record in the mile for 23 years before current Duquesne University and 2011 Butler graduate Danica Snyder.

Patterson was a junior high coach for 10 years and primarily worked with jumpers.

“I just coached wherever they needed me,” Patterson said. “I've been at Mars for 20 years and this is the first time I've coached varsity distance runners.”

While Patterson is still getting used to her team, she's looking forward to the challenge.

She took some time off with an illness and after the berth of her daughter, but is glad to be back on the job.

“I missed it a lot,” Patterson said. “I helped coach things with my husband, basketball and baseball. My daughter also does soccer. I'm excited to be back.”