Stability leads to success in high school hoops
When you have something good it’s best to hang on to it.
In sports, one only has to look at the local boys basketball scene to see that saying is true.
If a school has a good coach, leaves him alone and lets him run his program, success is usually the result.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently posted a list of the winning percentage of all WPIAL boys basketball teams since 2000 and it proves that point. Of the 23 schools in the Herald-Standard coverage area, five boys teams had records well above .500. All but one of those programs has a long-tenured established coach.
Not surprisingly, the top area team on the list, and 11th overall, was Uniontown (269-113, .704), followed closely by No. 12 Monessen (293-125, .701).
The third-best record in that span (31st overall) may surprise you. That would be Carmichaels (240-150, .615).
When you examine those three teams, you see they’ve used a combined four coaches in that span.
Red Raiders 15-year coach Rob Kezmarsky followed Dave Shuck. The Greyhounds only coach in that span has been Joe Salvino. The Mikes only coach in that span has been Don Williams.
Fourth on the list of area teams (35th overall) is California (230-157, .594).
The Trojans are the only team of the top five with more than two coaches since 2000, but most of those left at their own volition. They include Steve Luko, who led California into the WPIAL semifinals; Phil Pergola, who took the Trojans to a WPIAL championship game, and currently Bruno Pappasergi, who guided his team to a playoff victory last season and has another strong squad for 2016-17.
Fifth among area teams (42nd overall) is Laurel Highlands (216-162, .571), which has had only two coaches in that span in Mark John and current coach Rick Hauger.
Stability is the key word with these winning programs, and that comes from support for the coach.
“Since I’ve gotten here, from Dr. Machesky and the school administration at Uniontown, we’ve received great backing,” said Kezmarsky, who has 216 career wins with the Red Raiders. “It starts with that. It’s really a team effort with everyone, including the community which gives us tremendous support as well.”
Success helps lead to more success, said Kezmarsky.
“I was fortunate enough to have coached under Dave Shuck, who obviously was very successful,” he said. “To be over .700 in all that time, wow. You’re not trying to compete with past tradition but I think the kids also realize it’s an honor to play basketball here and they want to add to that, and want to keep that winning percentage up there.”
Sometimes it’s not only the head coach but the assistants as well who help boost a program. Kezmarsky always lauds his longtime assistant, Warare Gladman, while Williams is appreciative of his assistant, Tim Jones.
“I can’t say enough about Timmy,” said Williams, who has 484 career wins. “You know having a good assistant is very important, too. He’s been with me 25 years and we’re always on the same page.
“Having stability is definitely one of the keys. Familiarity breeds success to me. The kids are taught the same thing throughout their time in the program. They know what’s expected of them and are taught from when they get here all the way up what to do.”
Most people don’t realize how much a coaching change every few years can negatively affect a basketball program. Each new coach has his own practice routine, philosophy and personality.
The fewer changes you make the better, according to Williams.
“When you give them less, they remember more,” he said.
Like Kezmarksy, Williams appreciates his school’s support.
“I’ve had a tremendous administration behind me throughout the years I’ve been here,” Williams said. “No one ever tries to intervene in any way. They just let you coach.”
Salvino agreed.
“I think it’s very important when you have the backing of the administration and the school board and they let you run the program the way you want to run it,” said Salvino, who has 605 career wins with the Greyhounds. “That makes a coach feel confident and a little more at ease than when you have somebody looking over your back constantly.”
Of course, winning is important to have a long tenure as well, as Salvino pointed out.
“When you win, as long as you’re abiding by school rules and doing the right thing by your players, you’re usually going to be left to do things your way.”
Hauger, who had long, successful runs as a head coach at Penn State Fayette and with the Laurel Highlands girls program before taking over the Mustangs, had a couple prime examples of the positive effect of stability.
“In our area you don’t have to look much further than what the Steelers have done over the years with three coaches since the late ’60s and Joe Paterno at Penn State,” Hauger said. “No question, stability in any program, or in a whole lot of endeavors, helps your progress, to keep you moving in the right direction to be successful.
“Certainly players get used to doing things a certain way and they don’t have to make major adjustments from year to year. Everybody knows the expectations and the goals and what to do regarding the offseason, preseason, in-season and postseason.
“There’s just consistency across the board.”
There are two other area programs with winning records since 2000: Connellsville, currently coached by Andy Hedrick, was sixth among area teams (70th overall, 187-181, .508) and Charleroi, currently led by veteran coach Bill Wiltz, was seventh (71st overall, 180-177).