WPIAL Coaches Corner – Joe Salvino

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, March 6, 2017 | 11:24 PM

In this feature titled “Coach’s Corner”, I will be interviewing a different coach every week and asking them questions about their personal life and about coaching. Hopefully their answers will not only shed some light on how they coach their respective teams, but also allow readers to get to know the men behind the fields/courts.

This week highlights Monessen boys basketball coach Joe Salvino. Coach Salvino, a graduate of Monessen, is in his 33^rd year coaching the Greyhounds. He has 622 wins and just won his 6th WPIAL title this season. He also has guided the Greyhounds to 2 PIAA crowns. In the past 6 years alone, he has led his squad to 4 WPIAL championship games. Let’s take a look inside Coach Salvino’s corner:

1. What are some of your pet peeves?

People who don’t use turn signals

2. What is your favorite TV show right now?

Law and Order

3. Who was your favorite sports player growing up and why?

Roberto Clemente, because I thought he was very special to watch, he made fantastic catches, could throw from outfield to home. A player with exceptional abilities in all facets of the game.

4. Describe your dream vacation.

A month in Aruba

5. What are some of your hobbies in the offseason?

Golf, relaxing on my patio with my wife having a drink.

6. If you were not a basketball coach, what do you think you would be?

I don’t know.  I’ve never wanted to do anything else.

7. What is the most important thing you try to preach to your players every year? 

That’s it’s all about the team, and not the individual. Discipline

8. This is your 33^rd year coaching the Greyhounds. In the last 6 years alone, you have guided Monessen to four WPIAL title games. Does it ever get old?

No, if it was getting old I think I would have retired by now.

9. What is your proudest moment as a high school basketball coach?

All the Championships have brought great pride and satisfaction.  Seeing the players accomplish their life goals is very gratifying as well.

10. Talk about how it feels to be a graduate of Monessen and be able to coach the boys basketball team. 

It is very gratifying. Coming from Monessen and having that special bond with the area, it brings a huge amount of pride to be a part of your hometown schools success.

11. At 622 wins, 6 WPIAL titles, and 2 PIAA titles, you are one of the most successful coaches in WPIAL history. What do these accomplishments mean to you?

They mean that I have had dedicated players and staff members that have adapted to my system and have played a very important part in my success.

12. How did you decide you wanted to coach basketball?

My involvement in sports. Knowing that I would never get past a certain level of participation, I chose coaching as a way of staying involved in something that I was always very passionate about.

13. Talk about your decision to resign from coaching football at Monessen, and the impact it will have.

I chose to resign because of the numbers situation in Monessen. It affected the way I wanted to coach and my disciplinary ethics were highly challenged.

14. How important has your family been throughout your coaching career?

It takes a special kind of wife and family to handle all the coaching demands on their life. Practice, games, watching films, team and coach’s meetings. I’m very fortunate, my wife has been very involved with my program.  She is just as involved as I am, attending all games, some practices, taking care of the needs of the players and staff by making sure they have everything necessary. We do it all together.