OBSERVER File Photo Greg Lauer is stepping down as Fredonia High School boys varsity basketball coach, but will remain the school district’s athletic director.

Greg Lauer is stepping down from his position as Fredonia High School boys basketball varsity head coach.

After 10 seasons in charge of the Hillbillies basketball program, Lauer will step back from coaching to focus on his duties as the Fredonia school district’s athletic director — a position Lauer took over last year.

“Being a varsity basketball coach is a full-time job,” said Lauer. “I found that with all the time I was putting into being an athletic director, I wasn’t able to do as much (as a coach) as I wanted to.”

Lauer came to the decision to step down as varsity coach after last season. He added that in addition to his athletic director duties, Lauer wants to focus more on being a father to his two children, ages 8 and 11.

“I missed a lot last year because of how much I had to do with basketball and as the athletic director,” said Lauer. “I just wanted to have more time with my family.”

Lauer admitted that it will be hard to step away from coaching, but added that he would be involved with coaching middle schoolers, as well as staying involved through his duties as an athletic director.

“Filling that competitive void I’ll have will be hard,” said Lauer. “But I will still be involved in the basketball program.”

After 10 years as the varsity coach, Lauer expects Fredonia’s junior varsity coach, Nick Bertrando, to take over the varsity program. Bertrando, a social studies teacher at Fredonia High School, took over the junior varsity program the same year that Lauer took over the varsity squad.

“He’s been so involved in everything I’ve done since I took over the program, it’s almost like we were co-coaches,” said Lauer, who is an FHS physics teacher. “It’s about the time to turn it over to him.”

Bertrando is slated to inherit a team that finished 7-15 last season, but that doesn’t tell the entire story. Fredonia finished the year with a pair of playoff victories, before a loss to Newfane in late February. Though Fredonia graduated five seniors from last season, many key players such as Keith Piper, Nate Shuart, Brayden Myers, Nico Pucci and Tyler Putney are expected to return next season.

Bertrando has been working with the team in the offseason through summer league action. He was unable to comment because the school board has not yet appointed head coaches for the winter and spring sports seasons.

Twitter: @bradencarmen