Longtime coach Joe Lafko hired to lead Knoch boys basketball team

By: Michael Love
Friday, May 16, 2025 | 4:57 PM

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Joe Lafko looked to the future and also the past for motivation to return to coaching high school boys basketball.

Lafko, who was hired at Knoch on Wednesday, said his upcoming retirement in June after 35 years of teaching social studies at Hampton helped him in his decision.

The WPIAL Hall of Famer also said he simply missed all that went into coaching the game since resigning a year ago after 34 years coaching, including 28 seasons at Hampton.

“I missed the relationships with people, particularly coaching colleagues, referees, people who I had associations with during the season, and even the media,” Lafko said.

“I missed talking with folks about the game and being a part of it. This opportunity at Knoch presented itself, and I thought I could lend my assistance to help the community and help the players achieve personal and team goals.”

The 59-year-old Lafko, who posted a record of 548-331 in his 34 seasons, including a 489-251 mark in the 28 at Hampton, said he knew he wanted to come back when he had a chance to reflect on some things after finalizing the decision to retire from teaching.

“Our letters of retirement came in at the end of March, and there was a period of a lot of paperwork,” he said.

“I started to look at what really was next. I started to consider some options, and (coaching at Knoch) was something I am really excited about.”

Lafko takes over the Knights program from Alan Bauman, who stepped down after five seasons.

Knoch went 19-8 overall and 10-2 (runner-up) in Section 1-4A in Bauman’s final campaign and claimed the program’s first PIAA berth since 2006.

The Knights will enter next season without Valley News Dispatch Player of the Year Jackson Bauman, a rising senior point guard, and his brother, Brody, a rising junior guard. Both transferred to Moon this spring.

But Lafko will be able to work with an experienced lineup as the rest of the varsity rotation and others will be back hoping for big things in the 2025-26 season.

He knows well the type of player who comes from Knoch as he faced the Knights many seasons in and out of section play. In Lafko’s final season at Hampton last year, the Talbots won the Section 1-4A title at 10-0 and defeated section runner-up Knoch twice to get there.

But the results didn’t come easy, Lafko said, as the Talbots topped the Knights by a combined 10 points.

“I coached 28 seasons against Knoch players, and I went back through four different coaches during my tenure at Hampton,” he said.

“This group now has the potential to do some special things. When I was able to go up and talk with (Knoch) athletic director Josh Shoop and meet the other members of the hiring committee, I felt a great energy that really stood out to me.

“It’s been a short time since I was hired, but we’ve been busy talking to staff members, and we’ve made a lot of progress in that area. We’ve also made connections to summer leagues and opportunities we could have there. We’re in the early stages of making a schedule for open gyms and workouts. I am looking forward to meeting with the players next week and also meeting with the parents and the booster organization. Things are moving forward well with what I feel is a normal and positive plan for the summer.”

Lafko said he is looking forward to how his new team will tackle the competition, including matchups in section with defending champion North Catholic, 2025 playoff qualifiers Deer Lakes and Highlands and also Burrell, Freeport, and Valley.

“This section has a lot of the same teams that I faced when I started at Hampton in 1996,” Lafko said. “It kind of has come full circle. Classifications have changed, and teams sometimes move around. But I am familiar with a number of those rivalries. It is such a competitive section.”

Lafko’s final season at Hampton was a memorable one.

The 2023-24 Talbots went 25-5, and the experienced, senior-laden lineup advanced to the WPIAL Class 4A finals and the PIAA semifinals.

Shoop said he couldn’t be more excited to have Lafko come to the Knoch boys program.

“Joe was the perfect candidate for us and a great fit for this program,” Shoop said.

“The program is in great shape in terms of talent, and I know Joe is going to do a great job. The kids and the parents are really going to love his demeanor, the way he does things and his obvious knowledge of the game.”

Shoop said he was somewhat surprised when Lafko put his name in the hat for the coaching vacancy.

“But Joe and I talked when the position was posted,” Shoop said. “I guess I wasn’t really surprised because when someone coaches that long, it’s kind of hard to just jump out cold turkey. I am just thankful that we are the remedy for what he needs in his coaching life right now. It will be good for him and good for us.”

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: Hampton, Knoch