Obituary

Alan Lee Hetrick age 84, of Versailles passed away at 3:06 am Sunday, April 28, 2024.
Alan was born October 16, 1939, in Lima, Ohio, to the late Earl & Martha Hetrick. He was also preceded in death by a son, Mitchell.

Alan is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Vickie whom he was married to for 61 years; son, Michael (Tracy); sisters, Leah Driscill and Becky (Bob) James; brothers-in-law, Jery (Suzy) Zerbe and Lane Zerbe; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Alan was an educator for 33 years at Versailles High School and a football coach for 38 years. He touched the lives of countless young people over this span. He enjoyed golfing, especially with his son, Michael, hunting with his dogs and spending many hours wood carving. And now Alan is living peacefully with his Lord.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am Monday, May 6, 2024, at Greenlawn Cemetery in Versailles with Pastor Alan Leach officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Versailles Football Program or EverHeart Hospice in Greenville. Arrangements have been entrusted to Bailey Zechar Funeral Home in Versailles.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.zecharbailey.com for the Hetrick family.

(4-29-24) Versailles Football Coach Al Hetrick has passed away. A member of the Ohio High School Football Hall of Fame, Hetrick coached for 38 years before he retired in 2005. Hetrick’s career record was 334-95-4.

Most seasons  as head coach  38
Number of wins  334
A 334-95-4 record overall
Most games coached  433
Most consecutive winning seasons  15
Most winning season  33
16 Playoffs apperances (seven consecutive)
13 regional titles (five consecutive)
9 appearances in the state championship games
Six  state championships

1968 Versailles Football Team

OHSAA Most Coaching Wins, All-Time (minimum 270)

401 – Jim France, Akron Coventry (1971-) 3-7-0 & Akron Manchester (1972-2019 *retired*) 398-122-4
381 – Bob Lutz, Ironton (1972-2011, 361-83-4), Ironton St. Joseph (1969-1971, 20-8-1) 381-91-5
379 – Ed Domsitz, Trotwood-Madison (1976-1980), Northmont (1988-1998) and Kettering Archbishop Alter (1981-1987, 1999-Present), 379-174
371 – Reno Saccoccia, Steubenville (1983-2017) 371-68
369 – Chuck Kyle, Cleveland St. Ignatius (1983-2021) 369-104-1
360 – Terry Malone, Hamilton Badin
352 – Randy Baughman, Newark Licking Valley (1982-2023, 346-128-1) and Gnadenhutten Indian Valley North (1981, 6-4), 352-132-1
339 – Jim Rattay, Elyria Catholic (1976-1983), (Euclid 1984) 339-113-3
336 – Jay Circosta, Woodsfield Monroe Central (1971-2017) 336-144-5
334 – Al Hetrick, Versailles (1968-2005) 334-95-4
324 – Paul Culver Jr., Thornville Sheridan (1981-2015), Buckeye North (1979-1980) & Glouster Trimble (1973-1978) 324-132-5
323 – Pat Mancuso, Leetonia, Cincinnati Princeton
320 – Dick Haines, Frankfort Adena, Triadelphia (PA), Cadiz, Dover & Vista (CA)
310 – August Bossu, Cleveland Cathedral Latin 33-18-3, Minola, NY 2-3-2 & Cleveland Benedictine 275-109-15.
310 – John Livengood, Norwalk St. Paul (1991-2023) 310-87 (retired)
310 – Bill Gutbrod, Cleveland St. Joseph (1950-1990) 267-107-17 & Gates Mills Gilmour Academy (1991-1997) 43-28
306 – Don Bucci, Mt. Carmel (1955-1960) 22-10-0 & Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (1966-1999) 284-79-5
302 – Bernie Barre, Beechwood, KY (1975-1990) and Cincinnati Wyoming (1990-2009) 302-102
301 – Bob Gregg, Centerville

Did you know…

Coach John Lantz after leading Versailles to 29 consecutive wins and a UPI 1967 state championship, Lantz decided to move on as a school counselor and football coach at Centerville.

2017 Daily Advocate story— John Lantz returns to Versailles 50 years after leading the Tiger football team to a state championship

Lantz tried to get All Hetrick to join him at Centerville, but he declined the offer and became the Tiger head coach in 1968.