A quality coach is a quality coach, regardless of gender.

But when it comes to a comfort zone, discipline and developing relationships, women coaching girls teams seems to be the preferred choice.

“It's the ideal situation,” Butler athletic director Bill Mylan said. “But it's not always (possible). We haven't hired a lot of new teachers in the last few years, and it's tough finding quality people willing or able to coach.

“When a woman is not the head coach, we have a female assistant on the staff. There are issues female athletes have that are better dealt with by a woman. That's only natural.”

Butler has five female varsity head coaches — the most in the county — but is one of only three area schools without a female head girls volleyball coach.

Of the 94 varsity girls teams in the county area, 59 are coached by men, according to a survey by the Butler Eagle. The most lopsided sport on the female side is volleyball as nine of the 12 varsity girls teams are coached by women.

“Volleyball is one of the sports with the longest history for female high school athletes,” Knoch athletic director Mike King said. “Back in the 1970s and '80s, I didn't know of any schools offering male volleyball. It was a girls sport.

“In most cases, coaches come from former athletes in that sport.”

Knoch has one of the most successful volleyball coaches in the region in Diane Geist, who has accumulated more than 350 wins in 28 years of guiding the Knights.

“Female coaches provide good role models for young female athletes,” King said. “Seeing first-hand, someone of their gender building a successful career in sports ... That's good for a young woman to see.”

Brittni Grenninger, Freeport girls soccer coach and former Karns City soccer player, witnessed such a role model as a player. Her coach at St. Francis College was Brenda van Stralen, who played for the Dutch national team.

“I listened to all of her advice,” Grenninger said. “She was amazing. But I always wanted to become a coach. She just fueled it that much more.”

Grenninger played for a male soccer coach, Joe Meshanko, during her years at Karns City. His assistant coach was Lisa Castiglione, who eventually succeeded him as head coach.

Tracy Dailey, a former soccer player with the Gremlins, assisted Castiglione and is Karns City's head coach now.

“Lisa was the mediator,” Grenninger said, laughing, about her Karns City playing days. “Coach (Meshanko) might yell at us, get on our cases or whatever. When he was done talking, Lisa would come over and say, 'OK, this is what he wants you to do.'

“Sometimes girls do need that female perspective.”

Grenninger said issues come up in the lives of female athletes where “they just feel more comfortable talking to a woman.”

She experienced that as Freeport's coach last fall.

“We had two girls lose their grandfathers in midseason and it was rough on them,” Grenninger said. “We talked about it, and they broke down.

“They can cry a lot more in front of a female coach and not feel a need to apologize. They wouldn't have to apologize to a male coach ... It's just how girls feel.”

Union had a female coach — Karen Davis — who coached the Golden Knights' girls and boys basketball teams at different times in her career.

“It's always a good blend if you can get good, quality female coaches in your program,” Union athletic director Scott Kindel said. “There was a time we had no women coaches here.”

Union has three female head coaches on staff now.

“They do serve as positive role models and that's good for the girls,” Kindel said.

Slippery Rock has four female head coaches, but has two longtime male coaches — John Tabisz in girls basketball, Dan Hindman in softball — running those programs.

“Some sports are easier than others to find female coaches,” Rockets athletic director John Osborne said. “Volleyball is one of those because so many women have played the sport and know it well.

“In the sports (where) we have men coaching girls, we have a female assistant. That's always a good idea. There is a comfort factor there.”

Finding quality coaches at all can be a challenge.

“It's hard to find people anywhere now,” Mars athletic director Scott Heinauer said. “Girls can relate to women, that's just logical. And coaching females can be an uncomfortable thing for some males at times.

“But it takes time, commitment and effort for anyone to coach. Teachers used to take those positions, some would keep coaching beyond retirement, but they're not doing that anymore.

“We have a few coaches who are teachers. We have some who aren't,” Heinauer said.

Mylan said more and more coaches of all high school sports are hired from outside of the district and are not in the teaching profession.

“That's just a growing trend,” he said. “Years ago, all of our coaches were teachers. Now it's pretty much 50-50.

“Ultimately, you just want quality people to coach your kids. When a quality woman is coaching girls, it's a definite plus.”

There are 94 high school varsity girls athletic teams in the Butler County area. Fifty-nine of those teams are coached by men. The breakdown is:Sport Men WomenSoccer 6 3Volleyball 3 9Cross country 9 3Tennis 3 2Golf 2 3Basketball 9 3Swimming 4 3Bowling 5 0Softball 9 2Track 8 4Lacrosse 1 3Totals 59 35