Apr 28, 2002 By Dave Stofcheck 6 min read

If Robbie Kezmarsky had a nickel for every time he was asked “Who’s going to be the next coach of the Uniontown boys basketball team”, he would be a wealthy man. As it stands, Kezmarsky isn’t planning to retire to Florida because of new-found wealth, but he can provide a definitive answer to the aforementioned question.

“When you look at the past coaches, I consider myself the luckiest man in the WPIAL to sit on the same bench as they have,” Kezmarsky said. “I understand the responsibility that comes with the job.”

The “job” as Kezmarsky put it, indeed bears a load of responsibility. When Kezmarsky was hired as head coach of the Red Raiders baseketball team April 9, he was put in charge of one of the WPIAL’s most-storied programs.

Uniontown has won six state titles and 38 section crowns, the most of any WPIAL school. In the past three years alone, the Red Raiders have played in two WPIAL title games, winning one, and have also finished as state runners-up twice.

Past coaches are the stuff legends are made of.

Try these names on for size: A.J. Everhart Sr.; A.J. Everhart Jr.; James “Lash” Nesser and Dave Shuck, who during their tenure guided their respective teams to state title games.

Does Kezmarsky, who served as an assistant to Shuck this past season, think his name will ever be mentioned with that group?

“If I didn’t feel I was competent enough to do the job, I wouldn’t be here,” he said. “I’ve put more pressure on myself than anyone has. I’ve prepared for this for a long time. I’m so focused. You can’t allow yourself to get too high or too low. I’ve been through highs and lows and they have made me stronger.

“I have no doubt in my mind that these kids will give me 100 percent.”

Which, was nearly the amount of approval Kezmarsky received when voted into the position by the Uniontown school board. In an era where school boards usually agree on little, if anything, Kezmarsky was approved by an 8-1 margin.

Teaching within the school district gave Kezmarsky an edge for the position, which was rumored to have many applicants ranging from former University of Pitt star Darelle Porter to Chartiers Valley coach Tim McConnell.

“The administration and school board is second to none,” Kezmarsky said. “There’s a reason why Uniontown is successful. When you go to a game, you see the superintendent and every member of the school board. I feel they’re working with you, instead of you working for them.

At the age of 24, Kezmarsky took over at Albert Gallatin, replacing Dan Andria. His teams posted seasons of 8-16 (2-10 in section play), 4-20 (1-11) and 9-15 (4-8), which have led some to question Kezmarsky’s credentials.

While his numbers were unimpressive in three years at Albert Gallatin, he has perhaps benefitted under the tutelage of Shuck and long-time Laurel Highlands coach Mark John, whom he was an assistant under in 2000-20001.

“Everybody is entitled to their opinion,” Kezmarsky said. “Anybody who watched our last team play (at Albert Gallatin) saw that we played with every ounce of energy we had. We missed the playoffs by one game, and we beat Connellsville, a team that made the playoffs, twice. We also played Uniontown close. Our players worked as hard as they possibly could, and without a doubt, we played the toughest exhibition schedule of anybody.

“When you get into coaching, there will always be school boards and there will always be parents. The parents of the kids who play will love you, and the parents of the kids who don’t play might not like you. To be a coach, you have to be mentally tough. The only relationship I’m worried about is the one between me and my players.”

Kezmarsky doesn’t like to use the term “rebuild”, but Uniontown will definitely have a different look this season. Gone are first-team all-stater Terrance Vaughns, Dierre Jenkins and Chris Jacobs. The trio accounted for 4,095 points over their careers, including Vaughns’ 1,720.

Starters David Winfrey and Carl Farrell are also lost to graduation, as is often-used reserve Kevin McLee. The only player with significant experience will be Brandon Duncan, who as a junior last season came off the bench after receiving spot starts as a sophomore.

Not only will the faces be different from coaches to players, but the opponents will be as well. After choosing to “play up”, Uniontown will drop from Quad-A to Class AAA, where it will be grouped with Brownsville, Belle Vernon, Waynesburg, Southmoreland, Derry, Mount Pleasant and Yough in Section 3-AA.

“There are two sides to the issue of dropping down,” Kezmarsky said. “You can say you’re going to play against Quad-A competition, or you can ask yourself where do your kids have the best chance to be successful. Whoever thinks winning the Class AAA title doesn’t mean as much as winning the Quad-A title is wrong. Tell that to all the past Class AAA winners. There have also been years where the Class AAA teams have been the best in the state.”

Kezmarsky, who was known for his offense during his playing days at Laurel Highlands, has said the trademark defense preached by Shuck most recently will be back. Along with a few added wrinkles.

“We’re going to be in your face baseline to baseline,” he said. “We have the athletes to play that style. We’re going to try to fast break as well and run an aggressive motion-offense. We will be exciting to watch.

“At Uniontown, you’re set up to win. Year-in and year-out, there will be athletes. We have a lot of work to do, but what I’ve seen so far, these kids have a great attitude and determination. I don’t want to use rebuilding as an excuse.

“I’ve had the opportunity to learn from a lot of good coaches. For me to say I’m going to do exactly what Coach Shuck did is not exactly true. I’m Coach Kezmarsky and I’m going to coach to my strengths. We’re going to do a lot of things that past teams have done and we’re going to do some different things.”

Kezmarsky realizes his time is now. He thinks back to when he was nine-years-old and starry eyed, to the night when Uniontown won its last state title. Kezmarsky still has the picture with Nesser that was taken on the court following the game at Hersheypark Arena.

From that moment on, Kezmarsky ruled out being a firefighter, a policeman or a doctor. He knew he loved basketball and he wanted to someday do what Nesser did.

“I have been preparing for this moment,” Kezmarsky said. “I always knew I wanted to coach. I feel all the experience I’ve had at a younger age has prepared me for this situation.”

It has also helped give Kezmarsky the answer to the question he’s been asked countless times during the past year.