UPG men's basketball to honor program's top teams, players Saturday

When Pitt-Greensburg plays host to Penn State-Behrend on Saturday, the athletic department will also honor four teams and their players.

The four teams — squads from 1969-70,1998-99, 1999-2000 and 2004-05 — and former players who made their mark within the program will be recognized beginning at 12:30 p.m. with a reception at Fireside Lounge in Chambers Hall, where school president Robert G. Gregerson will address the group.

Athletic director Jeremy Yetter will speak followed by former coach Matt Furjanic, who coached the Bobcats from 1995-2000, winning consecutive Allegheny Mountain Athletic Conference championships.

“We want to honor some of our great teams and players,” assistant basketball and former player Harry Bowser said. “This is the 50-year anniversary for the 1969 team.”

Bowser, along with other members of the 1969 team, Fred Charles, Bernie Cobetto, Rick Hardway, Tom Jollie and Mike Noppe, will be in attendance.

Three players from the 2004-05 team — Kevin Conlon, Clint Mullen and David Winfrey — will be present. Conlon scored 1,297 points, which ranks him fourth among all-time scorers at UPG.

The 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 teams, coached Furjanic, and former athletic director Dan Swalga will be recognized. The players returning are Brian Curenton, Dom Domasky, George Gajdos, Josh Geletko, Jeff Karaica, Rick Leahew, Clint Roche and Jason Trout, the school’s all-time leading scorer.

Dave Washburn and Bowser were assistant coaches on that team.

Furjanic played at Pitt and Point Park. He is a five-time member of four basketball Halls of Fame. His teams have won either a conference tournament or a regular-season championship in 20 of his seasons. He coached Robert Morris to two NCAA tournament bids. He won 21 games at Pitt-Greensburg during the 1999-2000 season.

Furjanic has coached more than a 1,000 games at the collegiate level and won 606.

At least 18 former players are expected to attend. They include Kyle Bondi (2019), Adam Bowser (2004), Tyler DeWitt (2016), Carlyle Carter (1970-72), Jonathan Germock (2004), Ryan Moye (2006) and Scott Winfrey (2004).

“Matt is a great coach, and I learned a lot from him,” Bowser said of Furjanic. “It’s going to be a great day for the university and the program.”

Ironically, the 1999 team and the 2005 squad defeated Penn State-Behrend for the conference title. Penn State-Behrend coach Dave Niland was the school’s coach when UPG won the titles. One of his assistant coaches is Greensburg Salem and Saint Vincent graduate Chris Klimchock.

Both teams are 3-1 this season.

All the players and coached who return will be introduced at halftime, and there will be a social at the Boulevard Restaurant after the game.