SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – 21 years after retiring from Slippery Rock University as its director of safety, 82-year-old Ron Steele has decided to retire from The Rock again, this time stepping down from his role as equipment manager for the football program.
 
"Ron has been an invaluable member of our program and part of The Rock football family for decades," said head coach Shawn Lutz. "Thousands of our players have benefited from his services to our program. We want to thank him for those years of service and wish him all the best in his retirement."
 
Steele, a native of Slippery Rock and an engaged member of the community for his entire life, previously served as a police officer at SRU before taking over the role of director of safety. He retired from that position in 2001, but never left The Rock.
 
Former Rock head coach George Mihalik invited Steele to get involved with the football program. With free time on his hands, Steele agreed and stepped into the equipment manager role in 2001.
 
Throughout 20 seasons with the program, Steele prepared uniforms and equipment for more than 225 Slippery Rock football games and attended thousands of practices. He prepped all uniforms, pads and helmets for each season and oversaw a team of student interns that assisted with practice equipment and gameday operations.
 
In those 20 seasons on the sideline, Steele helped The Rock to 16 winning records, seven PSAC Western Division titles and six appearances in the NCAA Division II national playoffs.
 
While Steele was working with SRU football, he remained an active participant in local government, serving as president of the Slippery Rock Borough Council, of which he is still a member. Steele also gave his time as a member of the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company.
 
The equipment manager role for The Rock football team will be filled by Matt Halliday, who has experience with the program after assisting Steele in recent years. He will be assisted by Al Kirk, who also assisted last fall during the 2021 season.
 

 
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