After four years on the sideline at Point Park, Joe Lewandowski is signing off as men’s basketball coach.
Initially brought aboard in an interim role, Lewandowski stayed around to lead the Pioneers on a part-time role but put in full-time hours. He also works as a ninth grade English teacher at Butler High School.
The crunched schedule and time away from family eventually weighed too heavily on the former coach of the Butler and Deer Lakes boys and Butler Community College men.
Lewandowski called his time at Point Park “an amazing experience.”
“I am grateful for the time spent as head coach with some amazing young men, my assistant coaches and all the great people at Point Park,” he said in a news release. “From something that started as coming in for one year to help out to something that grew to four years, I feel that we were able to make a big impact on the players and the program as a whole. I know that Point Park men’s basketball will continue to be successful. At this time, in order for it to take the next step, somebody who can devote full time to the job makes sense.”
Lewandowski has three daughters involved in basketball and hopes to see them play more in person.
Kylee Lewandowski plays at Richmond while Dacia Lewandowski just won a WPIAL title at North Catholic, where she is a junior.
“Like anything in life, when you put energy into something, you are taking away from somewhere else,” the father said. “My wife and kids have been so patient and understanding the last four years. It’s now time for me to devote more time to my family.”
Point Park was 42-59 under Lewandowski, including a 10-16 mark this season.
The Pioneers finished 15-16 in his second season.They made the postseason four times with him guiding the team, reaching the River States Conference semifinals last year.
“The things we were able to add such as some trips and experiences like playing Division I teams, those were great,” Lewandowski said. “And to get some name recognition out there locally and raise some money for the program, those are things we can look back on as well.”
Lewandowski will continue his role with USA Basketball. He has won several gold medals and a FIBA title coaching 3x3 teams.
