With ground broken, new Mt. Pleasant boys coach turns focus to future

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, November 23, 2023 | 11:01 AM

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What has happened with Annie Malkowiak is a history-making achievement. But for now, she will file it under past history.

Malkowiak is ready to live in the present as the groundbreaking new boys basketball coach at Mt. Pleasant.

“I started watching film of last year’s team, and I turned it off after a few seconds,” Malkowiak said. “I want to form my own opinion of who we are now. We can’t worry about the past. If we have a rearview mirror, rip it out of the car and move forward.”

Malkowiak is the first woman to be a head coach for a varsity boys basketball team in Westmoreland County.

“I don’t dwell on it,” she said. “This is a coaching job. It’s not about a woman coaching boys. I get it, but that’s not what this is about. It’s about these boys.”

Malkowiak, a Hall of Fame player at Ellwood City (2,368 career points) and Cal (Pa.), has coached at her college alma mater, as well as stops with girls teams at Uniontown (head coach) and California High School (assistant).

A high-energy, no-nonsense coach, Malkowiak wants her team to adopt her approach to the game and life.

“Big, big energy,” she said. “Infectious energy. As a coach, you can’t be all in one day and half-assed the next. I am having so much fun with this group of boys.”

She said her assistant, former Beaver Falls player Kenny Johnson, also amps up the team’s vibe.

Mt. Pleasant finished 5-16 last year but brings back four starters: senior guards Luke Rivardo, Chase McCloy and Connor Pavlocak and junior forward Aidan Johnson.

Rivardo and Johnson also are soccer players.

The return of senior guard Dante Giallonardo should boost the offense. He missed last season with a knee injury.

Mt. Pleasant has size and strength, which allows the team to pass the eyeball test.

“We want these kids to get after it,” Malkowiak said. “I want to start defensively and build from there. I’d love for us to run and wear teams out.”

Rivardo and McCloy bring a scoring touch to the backcourt, and Pavlocak is a threat from long range.

Sophomore Jordan Grieff and senior forward Nolan Harnish should add valuable minutes, along with senior Garrett Spallone in the post.

“We’re still figuring some things out,” Malkowiak said. “I still want to nail down some fundamentals with them. I can’t wait for us to get started.”

Mt. Pleasant boys at a glance

Last season’s record: 5-16, 4-8 Section 4-3A

Returning starters: Chase McCloy (Sr., G), Aidan Johnson (Jr., F), Connor Pavolcak (Sr., G), Luke Rivardo (Sr., G)

Top newcomers: Dante Giallonardo (Sr., G), Jordan Grieff (So., F)

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

Tags: Mt. Pleasant