The new boys' basketball coach at Butler High School was in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game only four years ago and was pitching in the American League playoffs the same year.
Matt Clement, who pitched nine seasons in the majors (1998-2006), was hired last night by the Butler school board. He replaces Joe Lewandowski, whose contract was not renewed after seven seasons.
"I'm very excited and honored to get this opportunity, and I don't take this responsibility lightly," Clement said. "To coach these kids and lead these kids is something I've always wanted to do."
Clement, 34, is a 1993 graduate of Butler and played baseball and basketball at the school. He was the starting point guard on Butler's 1993 team that made it to the WPIAL Class AAAA final and was recruited by some Division I schools for basketball. But that same year, he was taken in the third round of the baseball draft by the San Diego Padres and signed with the team a few months after graduation.
One of the other finalists for the Butler job was Center coach Mark Jula, who, coincidentally, coached Clement in basketball at Butler.
During his days in professional baseball, Clement lived in Butler in the offseason. He married his high school sweetheart, Heather, and the couple live in Butler with their three young sons.
First Published: June 23, 2009, 8:30 a.m.