Sewickley Academy tabs Izzy as coach

Iuzzolino

Mike Iuzzolino is entering the high school basketball coaching ranks.

Iuzzolino, who spent eight seasons on the Robert Morris University staff, including the last three as associate head coach, has been hired as the head boys basketball coach at Sewickley Academy.

Sewickley is a Class 2A school competing in the WPIAL.

After spending nearly two decades as an assistant coach at several Division I programs, this will be Iuzzolino’s first head-coaching job.

“One of the things that’s exciting is for 19 years, I’ve just made suggestions,” he said Friday. “Now I get a chance to have my feet to the fire and do the things I’ve learned from 19 years of coaching and all the years of playing.”

Iuzzolino, 56, called Sewickley Academy, “such a prestigious academic institution — a great school that you can help kids with basketball and academics as well.”

Robert Morris coach Andy Toole wished Iuzzolino well.

“Mike was an invaluable piece of our program over the last eight years,” Toole said. “We’re sorry to see him move on, but we’re excited for the next opportunity for him. His goal has always been to be a head coach, and we wish him the best. I know he’ll always stay connected to our program, and we’ll be rooting and following him closely as well.”

Iuzzolino played two NBA seasons with the Dallas Mavericks after leading Saint Francis to the 1991 NCAA Tournament. He also played 10 seasons in Europe, and the Italian League team he played for, Scaligera Verona, retired his jersey in 2017.

“He commanded a great deal of respect,” Toole said. “He’s so experienced at every level of basketball, and he was always very thoughtful on how he wanted to present his messages. He was a guy I relied on to tell the truth — even to me. All those interactions will be hard to replace.”

Iuzzolino was part of a Robert Morris staff that won the Northeast Conference championship in 2020 before the Colonials moved up to the Horizon League, which has been a struggle over the past three seasons (34-63).

The transfer portal has compounded the challenge for all schools, especially at the mid- and low-major level.

“Transfers have transformed what is going on in college sports, but you have to adapt all the time,” Iuzzolino said. “One of the things I’ve learned is if you fear change in your life, you can’t grow. This is a growth opportunity for me, and that’s how I’m viewing it.

“It was a great experience at Robert Morris, and I got to come back home to the Pittsburgh area. We won an NEC championship, built a $52 million arena, and joined the Horizon League. A lot of great things happened, and I was very fortunate to be part of it.”

In addition to Robert Morris, Iuzzolino, a former standout at Altoona Area High School and Bishop Guilfoyle, previously coached at Saint Vincent College, New Mexico and Canisius.

He also coached on women’s basketball staffs at Duquesne and George Mason.

Sewickley Academy went 13-10 overall last season.

Sewickley Academy Athletic Director Mike Scerbo has known Iuzzolino since their days together at Duquesne.

“We are thrilled to have Mike Iuzzolino join Sewickley Academy as our next boys basketball coach,” Scerbo said. “With his playing and coaching experience, he will make an immediate impact on our players. I am confident that he will be able to lead our program back to prominence in the WPIAL and PIAA.”