Upper St. Clair appoints Holzer as acting AD
Danny Holzer, 56, wears many hats at Upper St. Clair High School.
He is the varsity boys basketball coach, a social studies teacher and student activities director.
He added interim athletic director to his list of duties after the Oct. 25th school board meeting.
Holzer replaces Dr. Kevin Deitrick, who resigned Oct. 15 to pursue other job opportunities.
“Upper St. Clair has been a part of my life for the last 27 years and I have always been a huge fan of the athletics,” Holzer said. “I am thrilled about this new opportunity and excited to play a bigger role. I am thankful the school board has entrusted me with this position. I am ready to work as hard as I can to make sure the programs continue to do well here.”
With the WPIAL fall sports playoff schedules in full swing, Holzer immediately assumed his duties. He made sure representatives from his athletic office were on hand for the Panthers’ postseason games in boys soccer, girls volleyball, field hockey and tennis. All had playoff matches Oct. 26 with follow-up action, including cross country championships, scheduled later in the week.
Hired in 1996, Holzer will vacate his teaching position to assume his AD duties, which he hopes becomes permanent. He will continue to coach the basketball team.
“I have enjoyed my teaching years and in a way this will be a continuation of that because my No. 1 responsibility being athletic director is my commitment to our student athletes,” Holzer said. “I want to be there to support and guide them as well as my coaches and try to be a positive role model for all of them on and off the playing field.”
In 26 seasons, Holzer has guided the Panthers to 22 WPIAL playoff appearances. He owns a 442-207 record that includes three district titles and eighth section championships.
The Panthers defeated defeated Pine-Richland, 56-53, at Peters Township High School’s AHN Arena to claim the WPIAL Class 6A boys basketball championship March 13.