Scott Erba has stepped down after a very successful run as the Warsaw girls track coach (File photo by Mike Deak)

WARSAW – Scott Erba’s track record as a coach speaks for itself.

Literally.

He has built the Warsaw girls track program into a perennial powerhouse under his leadership.

Anyone who knows coach Erba too knows that he is fully invested in anything and everything that he does.

That’s one of the major reasons that after more than a decade of dominance he has stepped down as coach.

It’s the second time in the last six months that the WCHS Athletic Department has lost an outstanding coach.

Both times it’s been Erba.

Erba, who resigned back in April as the girls cross country coach at WCHS, has two main reasons for his decision to end his illustrious coaching career now.

The ultra-competitive Erba, who is just 47, wants to spend more time on his own as a triathlete.

“I have been pondering this decision for the past six months and as I invested more into my own training and competing in triathlons this summer, it felt like the right time to make a change,” said Erba in an email.

“After a 17-year break from seriously competing in triathlons and running events, I was pleased and even shocked about how “right” it felt to get back into racing again. As my fitness levels and racing performances improved, I felt more inspired to invest all that I can during these next few years. Earning USA Triathlon All-American status this season after such a long layoff is exciting and I want to see how far I can go with this.

“I know myself well enough that I cannot give 100 percent in multiple areas and I do not want to give 80 percent attention to coaching and racing and be unhappy on both fronts. The girls and program deserve an enthusiastic and devoted coach and I can no longer give that to them at the level I believe is needed for Lady Tiger track and field.

“Also, my family is why I’m stepping down. Most coaches have this realization when their children are younger (I did as well), but I am seeing how differently our family will look in the next 18-24 months as all of our children will be out on their own. I want to take full advantage of that time we have together.”

Erba, who was the Warsaw cross country coach for five very successful years, claimed 11 Northern Lakes Conference titles to go with 10 straight sectional crowns and five regional championships in a row as track coach.

“I am most proud of the girls and what they have risked and how they have pushed themselves to achieve such success,” noted Erba. “As winning streaks emerged and titles started to stack up, we always went into each season with a clean slate and a new sense of motivation to perform our best for that season. We did not use “the past” as pressure to perform; we used it as motivation to take care of business in the moment and let the results come naturally.

“I have a lot of fond memories from these past 13 years from seeing the excitement and delight from girls who set new personal records to winning championship titles to seeing girls overcome challenges and rough times to bounce back and reach their greatest moments afterwards.

Among all of these, the ones that stand out are: winning our first NLC championship in 2006; nervously watching Ashley Erba (his daughter) win the 3,200 state championship in 2012; breaking the 4 x 100 relay school record and finishing seventh in 2006 then breaking it again while finishing as state runners-up in 2014, and finally seeing the long-standing 4 x 400 relay school record get broken in 2015 at the state meet.

“I know I am leaving out many important events and records from this short list, but really, each season brings back so many different memories and I cherish each one of them and will continue to use them to help keep those athletes’ efforts and memories alive for the future. I appreciate so much how much the athletes, coaches and parents have given to the team and program to make it what it is today; without that, there is nothing.”

Erba put together an outstanding record of 111-20, including a current winning streak of 53 straight victories in NLC meets. His teams won a total of six regional championships and had 11 Academic All-State selections. The program also grew from 50 team members in 2004 to almost 90 this past Spring in his final season as coach.