Pyrc returning to coach Fort Mill cross-country

When looking to hire a new coach, sometimes it takes just one phone call.

For Fort Mill High, that was all it took for former cross-country coach Marc Pyrc to come back to the school. An assistant principal at Banks Trail Middle School, Pyrc will keep his role there, but will once again be the Jackets’ cross-country coach starting in the fall 2016 season.

Fort Mill High Athletic Director Dwayne Hartsoe called Pyrc and asked him two questions: if he knew of anyone interested in the job and second, if he was interested in the job himself.

It didn’t take long for Pyrc to answer.

“I realized how much I missed it,” Pyrc said. “It was a lot of fun. It was the best time of the year.”

Pyrc coached the program from 2006 to 2013 and guided Fort Mill to a state title in 2010. He stepped down after the 2013 season and went into administration, taking a job in the Clover School District for two years. This past school year, he joined the Banks Trail Middle School staff.

Although out of the sport for the past three seasons, Pyrc said he still knows a lot of the kids running cross-country at Fort Mill, but he did admit it will take some time to get back up to speed.

“There are a lot of good runners at Fort Mill,” he said. “There is going to be a learning curve. I love what I am doing now. We can find that balance with coaching.”

Pyrc taught and coached while at Fort Mill High in his first stint. He said he sees coaching as just another aspect of the classroom.

“It is still about sharing knowledge and setting goals,” he said.

“Within the next couple of years, I want us to be running for state championships again. We need to make sure we have 14 fast kids every November (for the state meet). Fort Mill needs to be well represented at the state meet every year.”

This story was originally published June 3, 2016 at 4:17 PM with the headline "Pyrc returning to coach Fort Mill cross-country."