CHERRY TWP — This time, it’s definite.

After resigning as Moniteau High School athletic director nearly 10 years ago, Jim Metz decided to stay with the position once his duties became more streamlined.

“I just had too much to do and not enough time to do it,” Metz recalled. “Things were restructured and everything became more manageable.”

Also a longtime history teacher in the district, Metz, 59, is now retiring from all of his duties at Moniteau.

And they are plentiful.

“He will be a tough individual to replace,” Moniteau High School principal Maynard Harvey admitted.

Metz’ final day on the job will be Jan. 17 of next year. His wife, Donna, also a longtime teacher in the district, retired last year.

“We’re planning on doing some traveling,” Metz said. “We haven’t had much of an opportunity to do that over the years.”

Metz, a 1972 Moniteau graduate, has been employed by the district since 1986. He has been athletic director for the past 25 years, served as an assistant football coach for seven years, was head cross country coach for nearly 10 years and coached boys track for a year.

During his tenure in Moniteau athletics, Metz has taken tickets, operated the scoreboard at home football and basketball games, done public address announcing and served as game manager at numerous events.

That’s all in addition to his classroom work. Metz is closing the book on a 37-year teaching career.

“One of the most talented teachers I’ve ever seen,” school board member Joann Duke said. “We’re not only losing an athletic director, but also a masterful teacher.”

Metz had no problem filling the void with different sports as needed.

“This is the age of reductions and cutbacks,” he said. “Finding people to fill jobs can become difficult.”

Randy Armagost worked with Metz for 20 years while serving as a basketball and/or football coach at Moniteau.

To me, he is Moniteau,” Armagost said. “Nobody has done more for this district in the past 20 years than Jim has. He put in so much time there.

“Jim Metz has done more jobs there than anyone can imagine. He’s a terrific guy and a tough, tough loss for the school district.”

Longtime Karns City athletic director Tom Wagner originally worked with Metz on the staff at Butler Catholic.

“Jim is a super organizer,” Wagner said. “He’s done a super job as secretary of the KSAC (Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference) and because of him, all of our meetings ran smoothly.

“He will be missed at the KSAC level a great deal.”

Metz said he will miss special relationships he developed with others working in education.

“I developed relationships with officials, coaches, teachers ... so many people who are dedicated to sports, kids and education,” he said.

“I’ll miss teaching and working with youngsters. I’ve been doing that my whole life. This has been a good profession for me.

“I went to school here. I’ve always been proud to be part of this district and I will always have a vested interest in Moniteau,” he added.

Staff writer Laurie Lindsay contributed to this report