Then and Now: Kezmarsky used to torture the Red Raiders, now he coaches them
Rob Burchianti | Herald-Standard
Uniontown head coach Rob Kezmarsky shouts instructions to his team during a game against Keystone Oaks at A.J. Everhart Memorial Gymnasium on Jan. 26.
Submitted photo
Rob Kezmarsky stands at the foul line while playing for Laurel Highlands. Kezmarsky once made 52 consecutive free throws which still stands as the WPIAL record.
Herald-Standard file photo
Herald-Standard file photo Uniontown head coach Rob Kezmarsky yells instructions to his team during the 2014 season. The Red Raiders went 22-3 in 2013-14, won the section title, reached the WPIAL Class AAA semifinals and won a PIAA playoff game.
Lori C. Padilla
Uniontown head coach Rob Kezmarsky is shown with Red Raiders junior Billy DeShields after a preseason practice on Nov. 26.
Submitted photo
Rob Kezmarsky drives into the lane while playing for Laurel Highlands. Kezmarsky scored 1,522 career points for the Mustangs, and averaged a WPIAL-leading 37.4 points per game as a senior, which ranked sixth in the country.
Rob Kezmarsky used to torture Uniontown as a player at Laurel Highlands, now he coaches the Mustangs’ cross-town rival.
The Red Raiders’ head man played three terrific seasons for LH under then head coach and current Laurel Highlands Athletic Director Mark John.
“Mr. John did so much for us as a coach,” Kezmarsky said.” That’s why I do so much for my players. I couldn’t have asked for a better role model.
“Mr. John did such a great job, and the biggest thing is he always made you comfortable and relaxed to play. When we played bad, he would always take the blame, even if it was our fault. He does such a great job with the Fayette County Coaches’ Association to this day.
“Even though I’m hard on my players, I really care about them. Mr. John did a great job with this. These are high school kids doing the best they can.”
Kezmarsky’s success as a player started long before he was playing under John. He started playing basketball in elementary school for his dad at Clark Elementary, and also played for St. Terese CYO. Kezmarsky played for the late Bob Genovese at the YMCA.
“I loved playing basketball,” Kezmarsky said. “When I was young, I would go to my brother’s practices when he played.”
Kezmarsky played freshmen basketball for the Mustangs before moving up to varsity as a sophomore. His first game in the cross-town rivalry was a memorable one.
“I remember the game my sophomore year because I played against Uniontown’s Marc Vassar,” Kezmarsky said. “I idolized him and I remember scoring 21 points down at Uniontown.
“Vassar helped me out a lot down at the YMCA. It was great to get to play against him. Uniontown also had Fred Houston and Dana Vaughns on that team. If you would go to the YMCA back then, every night there were kids from Uniontown and Laurel Highlands playing.”
Laurel Highlands lost to its rivals in Kezmarsky’s debut in the series, 101-78, but it was the last time he would lose to the Red Raiders in his high school career.
The Mustangs won the second game in the 1987-88 season, 74-71, as Karl Brookings had 25 points and Bob Belan added 24.
Laurel Highlands defeated Uniontown, 92-85, in the first game during Kezmarsky’s junior season, and 87-72 in the second. Kezmarsky had a game-high 32 points in the first and 21 in the second.
LH won by scores of 80-63 and 88-83 in Kezmarsky’s senior year. He had a game-high 24 points in the first contest and scored 37 in his last game (as a player) in the rivalry.
“We had big crowds and it was exciting,” Kezmarsky said. “There was a packed gym at every game, and not just for the Uniontown game. I was blessed to have great teammates and coaches.”
The Mustangs made the playoffs during Kezmarsky’s sophomore and senior years, but weren’t able to make it past the first round.
“We played well, but just lost,” Kezmarsky said. “We lost to a very good Mount Lebanon team. It was a great experience, and the one thing I can remember is how big the crowds were at those games. It was a packed house every game.”
Kezmarsky believes Laurel Highlands would have made the playoffs his junior season if Brookings didn’t get hurt.
“Karl Brookings was our center and a 1,000-point scorer,” Kezmarsky said. “He was hurt my junior year and had to play with a soft cast on. It took some things away and I think we would have gotten into the playoffs if he didn’t get hurt.”
Kezmarsky’s individual accolades are still some of the best that have been put up in the area. He played point and shooting guard, and scored 1,522 career points to pass Wil Robinson for No. 1 on the Mustangs’ all-time list.
Kezmarsky’s career total was surpassed by Nick Bosnic, who scored 1,936 points before playing at the University of Maryland and Duquesne University in college.
Bryce Laskey moved ahead of Kezmarsky last season, as the current Saint Francis University freshman scored 1,667 points in his high school career.
Kezmarsky’s senior season was one of the best the WPIAL has ever seen. He scored 823 points, and at 37.4 points per game, Kezmarsky had the sixth best scoring average in the country. His statistics were published in USA Today.
Kezmarsky had 50-point performances his senior season against Wilkinsburg and Mount Pleasant.
Kezmarsky made a WPIAL record 52 consecutive free throws during his senior season. The mark was tied by Lincoln Park’s Maverick Rowan in 2014, but Kezmarsky’s free-throw shooting was some of the best the area has seen.
“I used to shoot hundreds of foul shots a day,” Kezmarsky said. “I was lucky enough to make 52 consecutive free throws. When (Maverick) Rowan missed his attempt at 53 straight, Mike White wrote a story about it.
“I took pride in my foul shooting. That is something that I worked at and I scored a lot of my points at the foul line. I probably can’t run down the court anymore, but I can still shoot my free throws.”
Kezmarsky is known for his prowess on the basketball court, but he also played four years of varsity baseball at Laurel Highlands under the guidance of Tom Landman.
“Even though I am known for my basketball career, I actually started all four years on the baseball team,” Kezmarsky said. “I played catcher and Tom Landman was a great guy. I was fortunate to be able to play for two great guys in Mark John and Tom Landman. I played second base and shortstop in Little League.”
Kezmarsky also coached the Red Raiders varsity baseball team for several seasons.
College basketball wasn’t the same for Kezmarsky, but he did play several seasons before deciding to focus on his studies and getting into coaching.
“I went to Allegany Community College in Cumberland, Maryland, which is a national power in junior college, then I played at Westmoreland County Community College before playing at Waynesburg College for one year,” Kezmarsky said. “Small college basketball was just different and not for me. It was a great experience and I had nothing against the coaches I played for. I enjoyed my experience with Coach Rudy Marisa at Waynesburg. I just wanted to concentrate on my studies and get into coaching.”
Kezmarsky’s coaching career includes a stop as an assistant to John at his alma mater, coaching with Ray Trincia and Dan Andria at Albert Gallatin and a stint with legendary coach Dave Shuck at Uniontown.
“I got to work with Mr. John, Ray Trincia and Dan Adria, who was a Fairchance-Georges legend and coached at Albert Gallatin,” Kezmarsky said. “It was great to work with Coach Dave Shuck at Uniontown. He was so good for me. I keep telling everybody about the love and respect his players had for him.
“I think the biggest misconception about Coach Shuck is that he always yelled. He did at the games to get his point across, but he hardly ever yelled at practice. He just taught and went over the game plan.”
Kezmarsky was the Colonials’ head coach before heading to Uniontown to work with Shuck.
“I was the head coach at Albert Gallatin for three years,” Kezmarsky said. “It was a great experience, and to this day, I am still proud of those teams.”
Kezmarsky took over after Shuck retired following the 2002 season, as the Red Raiders won the WPIAL Class AAAA Championship and were the runners-up in the state.
Kezmarsky may have gone to cross-town rival Laurel Highlands, but he was well aware of the tradition at Uniontown that includes four state titles and eight district championships.
“When I was younger, we went to a lot of Uniontown games,” Kezmarsky said. “In fact, I was in Hershey in 1981 when Uniontown won the state championship. My mother had Red Raider pride. She graduated from Uniontown in 1960 and had a lot of stories about Abe Everhart. I knew Lash Nesser, and you talk about a legend. It is an honor to share the same bench as all those coaching legends from the Everharts to Lash to Dave Shuck.”
Kezmarsky came into the 2018-19 season at Uniontown with a record of 238-127, including a section mark of 148-71. The Red Raiders have won eight section championships under Kezmarsky to boost the program’s total to 47.
Uniontown advanced to the WPIAL Class AAA semifinals in 2014, but fell to Chartiers Valley.
“We would love to get to the WPIAL title game,” Kezmarsky said. “We were one game short in 2014, and that is what motivates you.”
The Red Raiders have high expectations for this upcoming season following a victory in the playoffs last year and a solid group returning.
“I’m 46 and still love going to the gym,” Kezmarsky said. “I’m blessed to be able to coach at Uniontown. I’m lucky to have had good players and assistants. I also get so much help from Dr. Charles Machesky and the school board. They give us everything we need.”
Kezmarsky has coached two 1,000-point scorers at Uniontown in Junior Mays and Jordan Pratt. He also coached Brandon Duncan, who went on to coach as well.
“I got to coach some great players and it is great to see guys I coached get into coaching,” Kezmarsky said. “Brandon Duncan had a great career and finished just short of scoring 1,000 points.
“My nephew, Christian Kezmarsky, who also played under me, was a student assistant at Robert Morris and is doing some player development work. Marcus Thomas played for me and is at Chatham as an assistant.”
Warare Gladman has primarily been Kezmarsky’s assistant coach throughout the years.
“Coach Gladman has been with me the entire time, with the exception of the few years he was head coach at Albert Gallatin,” Kezmarsky said. “His role grows every day and he helps me out so much. We do so much scouting together.”
Kezmarsky has taught at Lafayette in the Uniontown Area School District the past 18 years. He is married to Cortney, and they have two children, Kiley, who is in fifth grade, and Jacob, who is in first grade.
Not surprisingly, Jacob is playing basketball in two leagues.