For the past five years, George Novak has waited a month or two after the football season to decide whether or not to retire as coach at Woodland Hills High School.

This time, he waited only four days. There will be no more Friday nights on the Wolvarena sideline for Novak.

Novak, one of the winningest coaches in WPIAL history, the one who built the Woodland Hills Wolverines into a powerhouse, the man who had close to a dozen players go to the NFL, has decided to retire. On Tuesday, Novak informed Woodland Hills principal Kevin Murray and superintendent Al Johnson that he will no longer be coach – and he also will retire as athletic director.

“I’ve been thinking about it all season,” said Novak. “They tried to get me to stay and just coach. But I feel like Forrest Gump when he ran across the country, came back and said, ‘I think I’ll go home now.’ I’m ready. It’s been a great ride.”

Read More: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-football/2016/11/16/Woodland-Hills-coach-George-Novak-ready-to-retire/stories/201611160220