ERIE, Pa. – After four seasons at the helm of the Cathedral Prep boys’ basketball program, Steve Piotrowicz is returning to the collegiate ranks, accepting a position as the head assistant coach for the IUP men’s basketball program under Joe Lombardi.
Piotrowicz compiled a record of 76-24 in his four seasons as the Ramblers head coach, including winning the 2021 PIAA Class 5A state championship.
“These past four years have been nothing short of remarkable,” Piotrowicz said in a Facebook post. “Prep has been my heart and soul for a third of my life in various capacities. My life has been drastically impacted for the better from not only my experiences but our players, staff and administrators who have become family to me.”
Piotrowicz had a standout high school career for the Ramblers before playing at the college level for Penn State Behrend and Gannon. After his playing career was over, he spent time as a graduate assistant for Lombardi before returning to Erie.
“I want to thank Fr. Scott Jabo, Bill Flanagan, Chris Hagerty and Kevin Smith for believing in me and affording me the opportunity to become the head coach of this historic program,” Flanagan also said in his Facebook post. “I also want to thank the thousands of alumni who supported our program from both near and far these past four years. One of my first quotes ever regarding outcomes of the position was ‘to make Rambler nation as proud as possible’ and I hope we completed that task!”
Piotrowicz goes to an IUP program that has flourished under Lombardi. The Crimson Hawks are coming off a 32-2 season that saw them advance to the Atlantic Region championship, where they fell to eventual national runner-up West Liberty.
Lombardi has compiled a record of 400-108 in his 17 seasons, including 123-11 the past five seasons (including the 2020-21 season when the PSAC voted to cancel winter sports due to the COVID 19 pandemic).
“As God always does, HE presented an opportunity in which I couldn’t pass up,” Piotrowicz said in his post. “With that being said, I have accepted the head assistant position at IUP, under Coach Lombardi. I am extremely excited to partner once again with Coach Lombardi to be a positive influence to our players through Christ and to help him with continued success on the court.Cathedral Prep will always be home to me and nothing will ever change that.”
