Pete Rile recently recalled his first swimming banquet with Whitehall.

“We had a pizza party at the pool,” noted the longtime head coach. “It wasn’t anything formal, but we had a great time. A lot has changed and some of it has stayed the same since then.

“But coaching has been great.”

After guiding the girls’ squad since 1989 and later the boys’ team (2005), Rile recently announced that he is retiring after a 35-year stint. He retired from teaching in the district in 2019.

Dave Seeloff, who has been his assistant for 33 tears, also is leaving his post.

“It’s about time,” deadpanned Rile. “I thought about it for a while, and my assistant and I (Dave Seeloff) talked about this year being the last one.

“I still had a drive for it, but I knew this was it.”

Rile remembered when former longtime Parkland head swimming coach Bob Clarke was named the head coach at Whitehall, but he then left for Parkland.

Suddenly, Rile had a new role after being a swim coach at the Allentown YMCA.

“I fell into that one,” cracked Rile. “At the time, I thought it was good for a good start.

“But everything began to fall into place, and I thought I could make it a career here (at Whitehall). We had some success, and we had more kids interested in the program.”

With the girls’ program, Rile complied an overall 342-226-4 slate, and his team claimed District 11 championships in 1994-95 and 1995-96, as well as runner-up spots in 1992-93, and 1993-94.

He produced three PIAA place winners, 23 District 11 champions, and 61 district place winners.

On the boys’ side, Rile had an overall 128-169-2 record and established a new school record with 11 dual meet wins this past season.

Ian Thomas earned the first boys’ PIAA medal this past season since John Elinitsky in 1976. Overall, the boys’ team had two District 11 champions and 15 district place winners.

“Coach Rile will leave a lasting impression on our swimming program at Whitehall,” said Whitehall athletic director Bob Hartman. “Thirty-five years is an awfully long time to lead a program, and he has done so with respect and dignity.

“His accomplishments are outstanding, but even more impressive is the relationships that he has developed with so many student-athletes at Whitehall. Dave Seeloff, his trusted assistant and right-hand man, is also retiring after 33 years as an assistant coach.

“It is really cool for coach Rile to have seen such great success this year in the district 11 and PIAA postseason, allowing him to go out with a big smile.”

Rile swam for legendary head coach Ned Hamford and then at Susquehanna University. The future Whitehall coach served as an assistant coach under Hamford from 1981-85.

Through the years, Rile has seen some changes among his athletes that have shaped his program.

“Kids seem to have more intensity in their sport today,” said Rile. “They tend to spend more time focused on one sport. We have kids training all year long.

“Our numbers went up and down over the years, but they have been more stable. We seem to have a pretty solid boys’ program now. When you get bigger numbers, space can be an issue.

“We just had to keep changing.”

Rile credited the support of his wife, Donna, and children Kristin and Mike through the years.

“My wife has tolerated this for 35 years,” said Rile. “My children always have been there for me and have been involved in the program.

“My children have always known me as a coach.”

With a new chapter of his life to begin, Rile can see the big picture.

“This was starting to become a job,” said Rile. “It never felt like that before.

“When I look at it, I have 50 years of my life in swimming. It’s time to get some new blood in the system. This is still with me, but I have to see how I feel in November.”