Sean Tetreault spent four years playing at Hughesville, eyeing Muncy as his team’s biggest rival and helping the Spartans win the annual finale each time.

How ironic then that he would eventually become one of the most decorated coaches in Muncy history.

The 2006 Hughesville graduate became Muncy’s head coach nine years later and has helped build a program which has captured nine straight district and/or league championships.

And this past season, he guided Muncy to a historic season.

Under Tetreault’s leadership, Muncy captured both the District 4 Class A and NTL-II championships, tied a program record with 12 wins and reached the state’s Final 4 for the first time. The Indians then gave eventual state champion Bishop Guilfoyle its toughest playoff game.

Taking all that into consideration, Tetreault was a slam dunk choice and is the Sun-Gazette Coach of the Year. Warrior Run’s Derrick Zechman and Montgomery’s Cory Tice were runners-up for the honor.

“He’s a great coach. He always pushes us to be our best,” defensive back Nate Rogers said. “He connects with us and pushes us to be our best and to win games.”

Muncy has won a lot of games since Tetreault took over. The Indians are 91-36 in his 10 seasons and have won 10 or more games in each of the past four years. This past year, Muncy won its fifth district title under Tetreault and his well-rounded, dedicated staff. It also played in its seventh consecutive district final and earned its fifth straight NTL-II crown, going undefeated in league play each time.

The Indians have won at seven games in eight consecutive years and were a force at the perfect time this season, overwhelming three playoff opponents, while also rallying for a 47-46 state tournament win against Lackawanna Trail.

Tetreault did his best coaching after a season-opening loss against Warrior Run and regular-season finale loss against Hughesville. Muncy won eight straight games after the Warrior Run defeat, then went on a historic run following the Hughesville loss. That says a lot about the impact Tetreault keeps making year after year.

He pushes the team, gets the players to believe they can achieve anything and strikes the perfect balance between work and play. Pushing all those correct buttons brought out Muncy’s best during districts as it outscored Canton and Line Mountain, 98-20 on its way to another district crown before edging Lackawanna Trail and pummeling Delone Catholic, 41-17 in the state quarterfinals.

“He gets us fired up,” Rogers said. “Everyone gets fired up when he’s talking.”

Tetreault was a standout lineman at both Hughesville and Lebanon Valley College, so it’s not surprising that Muncy has built a winning culture around outstanding line play. That was evident again this year as a line anchored by likely all-state selection Ken Hampe paved he way for a 3,000-yard rusher, 1,500-yard rusher, 1,000-yard passer and nearly 45 points per game.

Tetreault is both a play caller and line coach and has excelled in both roles. Possessing an outstanding line as well as a generational back like Austin Johnson, one of the state’s most versatile threats in Landyn Wommer and a super leader in quarterback in Stiles Eyer, Tetreault made sure all the pieces came together as Muncy won multiple state playoff games for the first time in program history.

“He pushed us and helped us. Even if I need something specific I can go to him and he will coach me up about it,” Hampe said. “He’s definitely a good resource and he helped the line a lot.”

Like so many high school coaches, Tetreault’s impact goes beyond the field. He influences players in a positive way as much away from the stadium as he does in it. Sports are hard and life is hard but Tetreault has been a calming, motivational source and that has been just as crucial over the years as have been the Xs and Os.

In terms of achievements, Muncy experienced its best season ever this past fall. Players will never forget those accomplishments, nor the thrill that came with earning them.

One better believe, they will not forget the coach who played a major role in making it all happen.

“I love the dude. He’s been a big part of my career, coaching the line,” Hampe said. “He’s been a big part of the team, whether it’s calling plays or messing around at practice and gettin us in a good mood if we’re having a bad day. Things like that are important.

Those memories will stay there for a long while.”