Again searching for new boys basketball coach, Plum seeks stability, return to prominence

By: Michael Love
Friday, March 29, 2024 | 3:20 PM

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For the second time in less than two years, Plum is looking for a new boys basketball coach.

Justin Walther tendered his resignation last month, and it was accepted by the district.

Athletic director Drew Karpen said Wednesday that in a short time after the position was advertised, there were several candidates who applied.

“It has been a revolving door lately with the basketball coaching position at Plum, and it was something I was aware of coming in last summer,” Karpen said of the three Mustangs coaches since the 2017-18 season: Walther, Mark Marino and Hart Coleman.

“It is something that I look forward to stopping. I’ve known the history of Plum basketball and of making the playoffs under coaches like Ron Richards. That is something we are looking to get back to.

“We are excited and looking forward to finding a new coach who can get us to that next level where these kids have worked hard and deserve to be.”

Karpen said he has heard from more than a dozen applicants. The interview process is starting with the hopes of having someone in place as soon as possible.

“We want the new coach ready to go with a lot of time to get into offseason workouts, including open gyms and summer league games and get to know the players well,” Karpen said.

When asked about his resignation, Walther said with the turnover in athletic administration with three athletic directors in the 19 months he was the coach, it was a challenge to gain a foothold in the position the way he had hoped.

Walther, who coached at Winchester Thurston and Serra Catholic a total of six years before arriving at Plum in June 2022, exits the Mustangs program after two years at the helm and a 14-30 overall record.

The Mustangs were 8-14 this past season. They finished the season with a 55-44 victory over WPIAL Class 3A finalist Burrell.

Plum was winless in Section 2-5A until the finale, where it topped Armstrong, 63-46, on Feb. 9. The Mustangs also were 1-9 in section play last year.

Junior Will Beckner led all scorers against the Bucs with 23 points on the strength of five 3-pointers.

Beckner will be back to help the Mustangs shoot for their first trip to the WPIAL playoffs since the open playoffs of the covid-affected 2020-21 season. Before that, Plum hadn’t been to the postseason since the 2015-16 campaign under Richards.

Other core players also eligible to return are junior forward Max Grice, sophomore forward Owen Proskin and junior guard Darian Nelson.

Grice led the team in scoring at 13.9 points per game and in rebounds with 7.3 per contest. Beckner contributed 12.2 points a game, and Proskin averaged 11.3 points and 5.1 rebounds.

“My staff did an incredible job,” Walther said. “We improved all over, and I feel I left Plum in a position to win next season. The varsity improved this season and will continue to grow, and the JV improved by six games from our first season, so the future is bright.

“The boosters were fantastic to deal with, and the parents of players who made the team were above and beyond with their support.”

Walther, who runs an area youth basketball program, Pittsburgh Buckets, with 10 boys and girls teams ages 9-17 this spring and summer, said he is not sure what the future holds for him in coaching at the high school level.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Plum