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ST. MARYS, Pa. – When one thinks of basketball coaches at Elk County Catholic, Aaron Straub immediately comes to mind.
After all, Straub has over 900 career wins.
But another coach has quietly gone about his business and has turned the Elk County Catholic girls’ program into one of the top programs in District 9 as well.
Ken Pistner recorded his 400th career win in just his 21st season guiding the ECC girls during the 2022-23 campaign.
The milestone victory officially came Dec. 20 with a 50-30 win over Kane at ECC (originally it was believed Pistner reached the milestone Dec. 7 with a 49-19 win over Coudersport before records later revealed he had to wait three more wins to get the milestone).
Regardless of when it happened, it was a special accomplishment as it is believed Pistner may be the first girls’ coach in D9 history with 400 wins.
He finished the season with a career mark of 419-151.
That record includes three District 9 championships – all in Class 1A (2009, 2010, 2022), 10 20-win seasons, five 25-win seasons, and just two losing seasons.
This past season, ECC went 24-5 and finished second in District 9 Class 2A while advancing to the PIAA Class 1A second round with a team full of juniors.
Pistner took over the ECC program in 2003 and immediately saw the Lady Crusaders go 119-6.
His first 20-win season was in 2005 when ECC was 22-6, and he guided the Lady Crusaders to a 25-win season the following year.
Pistner’s high-water win mark came in 2009 when ECC went 27-2 winning its first District 9 title since 1989.
Overall, Pistner has taken the Lady Crusaders to six District 9 title games (2005, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2022, 2023).
