After 13 years as head coach of the Packer boys track and field team, Tony Einertson is stepping down.

Einertson, who will remain as Austin’s head cross country coach, recently resigned from his position as track and field head coach to focus on his family.

“I’ve got an 11-year old son and I want to be able to see him grow up,” Einertson said. “I want to go his basketball games and whatever he does. Right now I want to be with my family and I don’t want to miss him.”

Einertson still plans on being involved in track and field meets and he will help out when he can, but the time investment of being a head coach was just too much for him right now.

The Packers have had plenty of state qualifiers under Einertson, but their best season most likely came in 2010, when Austin’s 4 x 800 and 4 x 400-meter relay teams took third in state and the 4 x 200-meter relay team took sixth at state.

Einertson recalled that season, but he likes to remember the inner battles that athletes win within themselves.

“It’s fun to have kids go to the state meet, but one of the unique things about our sport is you get to see kids improve,” Einertson said. “One of my best memories is watching Gabe Gerstner this past season finish fifth at the section meet in the 200. He worked his tail off and got where he wanted to be. There’s countless athletes like that who stand out in my mind.”

Einertson said he’ll miss out on dealing with the athletes and his fellow coaches, but he thinks the program will be in good hands with the coaching staff that is currently in place.

“I’m confident that whoever takes over as the head coach, they’re going to have a good group of coaches to work with,” Einertson said.