Jim Rankin's retirement as a head football coach lasted six years.

Butler High School hired Rankin as its new coach tonight. Rankin was a highly successful coach for 18 years at North Allegheny, and eight years at Ellwood City. His career record was 181-106-3 and he was 144-62-2 in 18 years at North Allegheny before retiring after the 2004 season. He guided North Allegheny to the WPIAL Class AAAA title game four times in the 1990s and won WPIAL and PIAA titles in 1990.

At Butler, Rankin takes over for Jeff McAnallen, whose contract was not renewed after three seasons. Butler did not win a game two of the past three seasons and has not made the WPIAL playoffs since 1998.

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