Published: June 16, 2008 11:28 pm            

Crisafulli to coach boys hoops at Westmont

The Westmont Hilltop school board voted on Monday to hire former girls basketball coach Mike Crisafulli as boys basketball coach.

Crisafulli was the Ferndale girls coach for five years, but left the program before last season.

Prior to that, he had been involved in the sport in several ways.

“He had been in the basketball community around here for about 15 years before that,” said Westmont Assistant Superintendent Steve Magee.

Although the vote to hire Crisafulli was unanimous, it was not without controversy.

Prior to the vote, Thomas Glennon of the PEAK YBA Summer Youth Basketball Tour told the board members that he was voicing the concerns of a number of parents and players when he questioned the hiring process.

“There is a perception in this community that not enough candidates were interviewed,” he said, asking that the board delay the hiring. He asked that the vacancy be advertised again and the selection process be repeated.

But, Glennon also stressed that his request did not reflect dissatisfaction with Crisafulli, whose name had not been disclosed at that point.

“I’m representing an opinion,” he said. “I’m not trying to dismiss a candidate. This isn’t personal.”

At the request of board President Mitch Azar, Magee reported that there had been seven applicants for the position. He said the list was narrowed to five names, two of whom withdrew from consideration. Interviews were scheduled with the remaining three, he said, but one did not appear for an interview.

The board went into executive session for a half hour to discuss Glennon’s concerns, calling him into the session at one point.

Crisafulli coached at Ferndale from 2001-2006, compiling a 86-49 record. His teams won the WestPAC championship in his first season and reached the District 6-A playoffs three times. He succeeds Dave Roman Jr., who resigned in April to take over the boys program at Greater Johnstown.

Roman had been at Westmont for 10 years, reaching the District 6 Class AA championship game six times and winning it four. His Hilltoppers went 201-77 and claimed three Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference titles.

In other action, the board accepted resignations of longtime varsity boys soccer coach Mark Drummey, junior high boys soccer coach Karla Good and assistant coach Austin Taylor, who plans to remain with the program as a volunteer.

Jack Bassett and Tom Jones were hired as assistant football coaches under new head coach Matt Glennon, who was hired previously.

        

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