NORTH LEWISBURG – Longtime Triad football and track coach Payton Printz is leaving to accept a position at Minster High School.

Printz leaves the Cardinals with an 86-72 record in 15 seasons and also coached the track team for 13 years. He won two league titles (2003, 2013) and made the playoffs five times in football.

“I just felt it was time for a change and a new challenge,” Printz said. “The decision was extremely difficult considering all the relationships I’ve made and all the accomplishments made as Triad’s head coach. I will definitely miss the boys, all the boys – from Pee Wee on up to varsity. Triad Nation has been awesome throughout the years. They have always been supportive, whether we are winning or losing. Also, during my two bouts with cancer, they have always been behind me.”

That support meant the world to Printz, whose gregarious nature and physical imposition make it easy to forget that he’s beaten that dreadful disease a couple of times.

Now, it’s time to move forward for Printz and his family.

“My favorite memory is being able to coach my son John. Being able to watch him become the man he is today,” Printz said. “John was a member and starter at center on our 2013 regional runner-up team that finished with a 12-1 record, which is the best record in school history. He was also on the best basketball team in school history, finishing 20-5 during his senior year.”

Printz also fondly recalled the 2003 team, which was the first team in school history to make the playoffs.

Printz will fill some sort of assistant’s role alongside current Minster head coach and former Urbana coach Geron Stokes, who won a championship two years ago in his first season at Minster.

“I honestly do not know what position I will be coaching at Minster,” Printz said. “I want to help Geron Stokes continue to build a powerhouse program in the (Midwest Athletic Conference), win the MAC championship and continue to make playoff runs that lead us to the state championship again.”