The Mars Area School District approved new head coaches for its softball and boys track and field programs during a January 13 school board meeting. Gerold Testa will replace Mike Bell as softball coach, and Daniel Carlino will succeed Robert Veloz for boys track ahead of the 2026 season. Meanwhile, girls track coach Julianna Watenpool and boys tennis coach Chris Knauff return for another year.
At its January 13 school board meeting, the Mars Area School District in Pennsylvania made key appointments to its athletic staff, signaling preparations for the upcoming 2026 sports seasons. Gerold Testa received approval to serve as the new head coach for the softball team, taking over from Mike Bell. Similarly, Daniel Carlino was named the new head coach for boys track and field, replacing Robert Veloz who held the position last season.
The board also confirmed the return of Julianna Watenpool as head coach for girls track and Chris Knauff for boys tennis, providing continuity in those programs. Knauff, however, retired from his role as boys soccer coach following the fall season, leaving that position open alongside football as potential vacancies to be filled by the February board meeting.
These changes come as Mars Area High School aims to strengthen its competitive edge in high school athletics within Butler County. The approvals reflect a mix of fresh leadership and retained experience, though specific details on the new coaches' backgrounds were not detailed in the board minutes.