Whitehall High School swimming coach, Peter Rile, has announced his retirement.

Coach Rile started as the girls swimming head coach at Whitehall in 1989 and will retire having just completed his 35th season at the helm of the girls’ team.

Coach Rile served concurrently as the boys’ head coach beginning in 2005. During his tenure as the boys’ head coach, Pete compiled a dual meet record of 128-169-2, with the 2023-24 team establishing a school record with 11 dual meet wins. Every swimming record on the boys side has been established in either the 2022-23 or 2023-24.

Coach enjoyed seeing Ian Thomas earn the 1st PIAA medal on the boys side since John Elnitsky in 1976, this past season. He coached 2 individual District XI champions and 15 District XI placewinners.

As the head coach of the girls’ team, Coach Rile amassed 342 wins against 226 losses and 4 ties. Coach Rile’s overall record at Whitehall was 470-395-6 during his 35-year career. The girls team was the District XI AA Champions in 1994-95 and 1995-96 following the 1992-93 and 1993-94 when they were runners-up. On the individual front, Coach Rile coached 3 PIAA placewinners, 23 District XI champions, and 61 District XI placewinners.

“Coach Rile will leave a lasting impression on our swimming program at Whitehall. 35 years is an awfully long time to lead a program and he has done so with respect and dignity.

“As you can see, his accomplishments are outstanding, but even more impressive is the relationships that he has developed with so many student-athletes over his 35 years at Whitehall. Dave Seeloff, his trusted assistant and right-hand man is also retiring after 33 years as an assistant coach. Both of those men will be difficult to replace. It is really cool for Coach Rile to have seen such great success this year in the District XI and PIAA postseason, allowing him to go out with a big smile,” said Whitehall High School Athletic Director Bob Hartman.

Whitehall-Coplay School District will be immediately accepted applications for both head coach and assistant coach.