Grenek reaches 200 wins
POINT PARK — Butler graduate and Point Park University women's basketball coach Tony Grenek doesn't have a home court.
He doesn't even have a regulation floor for his team to practice on.
But he has 200 wins — and counting.
Grenek, 50, picked up his 200th win with the Pioneers Dec. 20, a 63-49 victory at Ohio Christian University. He is 200-95 in less than 11 full seasons with the Pioneers.
No previous Point Park women's basketball coach had won more than 81 games.
“We definitely play with a chip on our shoulder,” said Grenek, a 1990 Butler grad. “We feel like we're the underdogs.”
The Pioneers play in the River States Conference, a league that covers five states. Point Park's scholarship budget is among the lowest in the circuit.
“We refer to ourselves as the Pittsburgh Pirates of our league,” Grenek said. “That's a running joke around here.”
With the school located in downtown Pittsburgh, Point Park does not have a gym in which to play its home games. Its practice facility is located on the fifth floor of the Student Center — the former Pittsburgh YMCA — and is smaller than a regulation college basketball court.
As for its home games? The Pioneers play wherever they can find a facility willing to take them in.
“We're vagabonds, basically,” Grenek said.
For a few years, Point Park's home floor was the CCAC Allegheny South's facility, 11 miles from campus. The past four years, the Pioneers were able to play at CCAC North's facility, only a mile from campus.
But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team has not been permitted to play there this season.
“Now we look around for places to play,” Grenek said. “We've played two home games at Duquesne's new facility, we've played at Oakland Catholic High School, La Roche, whoever will have us.”
And they keep winning.
Point Park is 8-5 so far this season. Grenek has won three conference championships during his tenure there, making three trips to the NAIA National Tournament.
Last year, his team finished sixth nationally among NAIA schools with a 3.65 grade point average.
Grenek's assistant coaches through the years have been former players. Sam Weir, who played for Grenek only three years ago, is in her second season on his staff.
“Tony is a very laid back person, fun to be around,” Weir said. “He makes his players feel relaxed and comfortable.
“When you're happy, you play better. I think that's been a key to his success.”
Weir was already a mother when she played at Point Park.
“Tony would hold my baby during basketball practice,” she said. “How many head coaches would do that?”
Grenek said one of his biggest recruiting tools is a consistent practice time. The Pioneers practice from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 to 11 a.m. Friday and Saturday. His team never practices during the evening.
“A lot of our players have to work as well as attend classes,” he said. “Our practice schedule enables them to do that.”
Before coming to Point Park, Grenek coached for five years at Butler County Community College and served five years as an assistant women's basketball coach at Seton Hill University.
“I remember something Coach (Dick) Hartung told me when we were together at BC3,” Grenek said. “He said to never give up on a recruit, even after the player decides to go elsewhere. Keep that relationship positive. You never know if that player may reconsider and wind up in your program.
“That's happened here a few times.”
Grenek admitted he wasn't banking on staying at Point Park for as long as he has.
“I figured it'd be another five-year stay or so. That's been my trend,” he said, laughing. “But I love working in Pittsburgh. We're so close to everything and my family is entrenched in the North Hills now.
“I'm proud of the success we've had. Hopefully, we'll keep on going.”
