Apr 9, 2017 4 min read

Jim Matalik is not sure how he will handle not coaching high school athletes come the next school year.

In fact, he cannot say for certain he will not be at the side of Avella High School baseball coach and athletic director Jason Fogg next spring.

But what Matalik does know is that he is retiring as the Eagles’ head girls basketball coach to focus on some health issues that have dogged him the past four years.

Matalik and Fogg met Thursday and the veteran coach informed his athletic director that he will no longer be coaching basketball.

“This is my fourth year fighting cancer,” Matalik explained. “I need to focus on my health. I will miss it.”

And Matalik’s everyday presence will be missed by the Avella athletes.

He coached the Eagles for 18 years. He continues to assist Fogg with the Avella baseball team and previously coached baseball for 25 years at Burgettstown. He was an assistant there for seven years. In all, Matalik has coached high school baseball for 51 years.

Avella went 242-155 in section play during Matalik’s tenure as basketball coach, he said.

The Eagles went 11-11 overall and 5-5 in Section 2-A this past season and lost to St. Joseph in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.

Avella’s last section title came in the 2012-2013 season and its last postseason win was in 2010, when it defeated Monaca in a preliminary round game.

Matalik will be honored as the recipient of the Roy Gillespie Memorial Special Award at the Tri-County Athletic Directors Coach of the Year Banquet, 5 p.m. Sunday, April 23 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Meadow Lands.

Tickets for the banquet are $35 each and are on sale at Washington High School, 201 Allison Avenue, Washington, Pa., 15301. Reservations can be made by calling Washington athletic director Mike Bosnic at 724-223-5085, ext. 2091.

All proceeds from the banquet benefit Special Olympics.

Coach of the Year winners also will be revealed in girls and boys basketball, football, softball, baseball and wrestling.

Matalik retired as a teacher from the Burgettstown School District in 1998 and then became associated with Avella.

Under Matalik, Burgettstown baseball was a force, winning multiple section championship and advancing to the WPIAL semifinals once.

Matlaik, 77, also coached Blue Devils’ boys basketball team from 1967-1971 and then the girls softball team. His best season as boys coach was in 1971 as Burgettstown went 15-7 and finished second in its section to Washington.

His overall varsity basketball record, – both boys and girls is a combined 406-352.

“I want to thank the Avella School District for allowing me to coach there and to allow me to coach after I retired as a teacher,” Matalik said. “That means a lot to me.”

Matalik also praised longtime Avella coach Jim Morris for his service as an assistant girls basketball coach and for Morris’ service to coaching high school athletes.

“Jim Morris is a great man and he doesn’t receive the recognition for that as he deserves,” Matalik said. “He has done so many things for me, Avella and kids.”

Fogg said the process of replacing Matalik as girls basketball coach will begin soon and the position will be posted “in-house” for two weeks.

“The board will have to accept his retirement from the position first,” Fogg said. “We will interview in house first and then open to outside, if needed.”

Fogg said the health issues Matalik is facing are difficult but added the veteran coach is a steadying influence and good assistant for him in the baseball program.

“Avella is losing a good one,” Fogg said. “He’s amazing. He is out swinging the fungo (bat) every day for the baseball team.”

Matalik isn’t ruling out a return as Fogg’s assistant if a surgery, which will take place this month, and recovery turn out well.

“I’m not sure about baseball, yet,” Matalik said. “It depends how I feel. If I come through all right, I’d like to come back. Jason needs the help. And we work well together.”

Matalik added he will miss coaching his granddaughter, Bailey Lis, who will be a senior durign the next school year. His grandson, Austin Lis, also is an athlete at Avella.

“I’ve really enjoyed my years at Avella,” Matalik said. “We’re the smallest public school in the WPIAL. I’m happy with what we’ve done here and I am happy about our section record at Avella.”