Joe Salvino, Belle Vernon boys basketball hoping for right mix

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, November 19, 2018 | 7:51 PM

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Belle Vernon boys basketball made significant strides last season. The Leopards won 18 games, topped 80 points on three occasions, qualified for the state playoffs for the first time in 20 years and even won at neighboring rival and perennial power Monessen.

When coach Kyle DeGregorio left during the offseason for the Baldwin girls job, Belle Vernon athletic director Matt Humbert sought a hire who could help the Leopards become a consistent WPIAL contender and PIAA participant.

Humbert didn’t have far to look.

For 34 years, Joe Salvino guided the Monessen boys program and turned it into one of the more successful teams in the state. Salvino, a 1970 Monessen graduate, compiled a 638-256 record, the eighth-most wins in WPIAL history. He’s one of only six basketball coaches with at least six WPIAL titles, and his teams won two PIAA championships and made deep postseason runs numerous times. Good luck finding a coach with a more sparkling resume.

“It caught us off-guard at first when (DeGregorio) left, but we ended up with a great coach,” junior guard Cam Nusser said. “We’ve all heard about him. Now, we get him as coach. It’s pretty exciting.”

The Leopards’ excitement before the first practice of the season Friday was evident. About 10 minutes later, the majority of varsity hopefuls were bent over, grabbing their shorts in exhaustion.

Salvino’s teams are known for speed, execution, toughness and skill. They outrun and outwork opponents. And if players aren’t performing up to his expectations, Salvino isn’t afraid to share his feelings, even if everyone in a crowded gymnasium can hear it.

The coach hopes his approach, combined with the skill acquired by the Leopards who were coached by DeGregorio, provides immediate results.

“This is an athletic group, which is one of the things that’s a plus here,” Salvino said. “Are they as athletic as the kids I’ve had at Monessen? We’ll find out about that, but they’re some good, young players here. This is going to be a good thing.”

As with any coaching change, a feeling-out process will take place, but expect Belle Vernon to have a motion offense and a pressing defense installed by the time the Leopards open at Washington, which is led by another big-time winner, Ron Faust.

“I’m expecting a good year,” Salvino said. “I hope that they learn the system. If they do, we’ll be able to do some good things.”

Expect Nusser to get things started.

He emerged as a prime scoring threat last season, and he could be tasked with running Salvino’s offense.

“My main role is to bring scoring to the team, but I think I’m an all-around player,” Nusser said. “We’re shooting for WPIALs and states, looking to build a championship team.”

Nusser leads a strong junior class that includes Larry Callaway, Mitch Pohlot and Hunter Ruokonen. Cam Guess, the standout kicker/punter with Division I attention, is also part of that group.

Several of those players helped Belle Vernon to an 18-7 record with a 12-2 mark in Section 3-4A, which was good enough to win the title. That success, and Humbert’s persistence, helped persuade Salvino to leave. Originally, Salvino planned to stay at Monessen when Humbert first approached. Then, when Humbert asked if Salvino would offer any assistance in his coaching search, that’s when he had second thoughts.

“So far, it’s been great,” Salvino said. “I can’t ask for anything more, and Coach Humbert has been fantastic.”

Mike Kovak is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Mike at mkovak@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MKovak_Trib .

Tags: Belle Vernon