PITTSBURGH — Joe Lewandowski didn't stay off the bench long.

The former Butler High School boys and girls basketball coach — who last coached the Golden Tornado girls in 2016-17 — has been named interim men's basketball coach at Point Park University.

He replaces Gabe Bubon, who left the program for another opportunity over the summer. The Pioneers were 12-42 under Bubon.

“He (Bubon) had been an assistant there for a number of years before becoming head coach, so there's been stability there,” Lewandowski said. “The program has struggled the past couple of years, but it has a lot of tradition.”

Point Park was 17-11 in 2015-16, followed by seasons of 8-20 and 4-22.

Lewandowski was hired on an interim basis by new Point Park athletic director John Ashaolu, who only took that position Sept. 10.

“I didn't have time to put together a full-scale search for a new head coach,” Ashaolu said. “We came across Joe and he was willing to help us out this season.

“Joe coached a friend of mine's daughter in AAU and that friend said a lot of good things about him. So did a lot of other people I know through AAU ball.”

Lewandowski spent the past year coaching USA Basketball and AAU, along with watching daughter Kylee play basketball at North Catholic High School. He is also a ninth grade English teacher at the Butler Intermediate High School.

“John called me about the position. I didn't even know the job was open,” Lewandowski said. “He said he heard a lot of good things about me — for which I'm very appreciative — and asked if I'd be interested in filling the job on an interim basis.

“After meeting him and talking it over with my wife, it was a go. The guy (Ashaolu) is fantastic. He gets it. He was so impressive to me. I wanted to help them out.”

Lewandowski said the job will not interfere with his teaching position at Butler in any way. Basketball practice began Monday at Point Park and he drives to the university each day after school.

“I checked out the road schedule and it works out perfectly,” he said. “I couldn't believe it.”

He has yet to hire assistant coaches officially. Point Park begins its season Nov. 1 against Wilverforce.

Though Lewandowski will not commit to the Point Park position beyond this year, he is involved in the program's recruiting process.

“I'm definitely doing that, too,” he said of recruiting. “I have a lot of contacts with coaches across Western Pennsylvania. There is plenty of basketball talent in this region and we need to tap into that.”

The Pioneers have five seniors on this year's roster.

“After the season, we will begin our search for a permanent coach,” Ashaolu said. “Joe will be welcome to apply for that position.”

Besides coaching boys and girls basketball at Butler, Lewandowski has been boys basketball coach at Deer Lakes High School and founded the Pennsylvania Keystone Flash Basketball Club. Five of his AAU players from this past season have moved on to Division I college ball.

He has coached the Team USA 3-on-3 women's basketball team to two gold medals and the men's team to a silver.

“It's a possibility,” Lewandowski said of applying for the permanent position at Point Park. “We'll see how everything goes this season, how it all works out.

“It's OK to be part of a process, to get the program on the right track and help establish a culture. If it does work out and everrything is mutually beneficial to all parties, that's great as well.”