Westmoreland high school notebook: Thompson adds AD to his duties at Greensburg Central Catholic

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, May 1, 2025 | 7:11 PM

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John “JT” Thompson has been the football coach at Greensburg Central Catholic for two seasons. He will have additional duties as he prepares for a third.

Thompson will take over as athletic director following the retirement of Dan Mahoney.

A Rome, N.Y., native who has been a football coach for more than two decades, mostly at the college level, he is eager to get started.

“I am committed to creating a well-rounded athletic program that not only excels on the track, field, court and diamond but also serves as a catalyst for student development and community engagement,” Thompson said in a news release. “I am eager to contribute to this mission by building a robust athletic program that not only supports the school’s academic goals but also fosters a sense of community and pride among students, faculty and alumni.”

Thompson played and coached football at Marist and served as defensive coordinator at Sacred Heart, Mercyhurst, Saint Vincent and Gannon.

He also coached defensive players at Saint Francis (Pa.) and Marist.

Thompson, who works for Spring Cove Container Co., led GCC to an 8-3 record last season, and the Centurions were 8-4 in his first season. They made the WPIAL Class A playoffs both years.

“Throughout his career, JT has coached at several small private Catholic institutions,” said Diocese of Greensburg Superintendent of Catholic Schools Dr. Nancy Rottler. “These experiences have equipped him with a unique perspective on the role of athletics in fostering a supportive and faith-based community, and we are delighted with JT taking on this new role at GCC.”

Mahoney has been a mainstay at GCC athletic events and in the hallways. He has worked as an administrator, teacher, coach and AD at GCC in a career spanning 42 years. He was AD and football coach from 2012-16.

He has been AD since 2010.

His retirement will be official after this school year.

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Malkowiak out?

Mt. Pleasant has opened its boys basketball coach position, which could mean the end of Annie Malkowiak’s short tenure with the program.

The first woman to coach a boys varsity basketball team in Westmoreland County and the fourth to do so in WPIAL history, Malkowiak’s team went 0-22 last season.

She declined comment on the matter for now but said she was encouraged to reapply and plans to. The district coaches work on one-year contracts.

The Vikings were 8-13 in her first season and made the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs.

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Lacrosse playoffs

The WPIAL will release seedings and brackets for the boys and girls lacrosse playoffs on Thursday.

The Franklin Regional girls are the only Westmoreland County team to qualify so far.

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Player of the week

Latrobe junior libero Gabe Watson was named a Western PA Volleyball Coaches Association Class 3A Player of the Week.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Greensburg C.C., Latrobe, Mt. Pleasant