Helping out in a pinch

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

October 31, 2006 Last Updated: October 31, 2006 12:21 PM College

Hartung

Hartung back as BC3 hoops coach for 1 year

BUTLER TWP — After a five-year hiatus, Dick Hartung is back as head coach of the Butler County Community College men's basketball team.

But for only one season.

Hartung won 255 games during a 16-year career as Pioneers coach before retiring in 2001. He was an assistant coach at Butler High School until a year ago.

"This past year was the first time I wasn't involved in coaching,"Hartung said. "I didn't miss it at all. I've got nine kids. I keep busy."

Hartung's replacement at BC3, Tony Grenek, left the program in August to accept an assistant coaching position at Seton Hill.

"They called me on Oct. 13 and asked me if I could take the program for a year,"Hartung said. "There is a more permanent coach who's interested in the job, but won't be available until next year.

"I took the job for three reasons. They're paying me $5,200 and I need the money. I've watched the kids practice in the gym and they're good, so I think I can win. And three, I'm still a competitive son of a gun."

The Pioneers have no returnees from last season, but have 11 players on the roster. Two won't be eligible until after Christmas.

Of the nine others, Hartung knows his top six players.

"We're pretty ahead of the game that way,"he said. "My five starters will come from those six."

Two of the six — guards Alan Jackson and Blake Anderson of Butler — were coached by Hartung in high school. The others are Knoch graduate Ryan Ziacik and three Ohio products: 6-foot-3 Steve Newton from Cleveland, 6-2 Kevin Scott from Youngstown and Cory Doty from Martins Ferry.

Rounding out the roster are 6-4 Rich Marchinoski of Butler, 6-2 Andrew Daniels of Philadelphia and 6-3 John Leetch of Hickory.

"What we're lacking is the big, strong post player,"Hartung said. "We'll run a three-guard attack with Kevin Scott being my No. 4 man."

Newton is another athletic player who Hartung said "thinks he's giving 100 percent, but he's only giving 80 percent. At 80 percent, he's pretty good.

"When he turns the throttle all the way on, he can really make a difference here."

Ziacik is a shooter who transferred from Messiah College, a Division IIIschool

Jackson, Anderson and Doty can shoot the 3-pointer. Hartung said Jackson will be the point guard with Anderson at the two-guard spot.

"All three of those guys can put the ball in the hole or they can put it on the deck," the coach said. "Jackson's my first choice, but all three of those guys can play the point.

"The only one who can stop Alan Jackson is Alan Jackson. When he's giving 100 percent mentally and physically, that kid has the potential to be a scholarship basketball player."

Hartung's assistant coach is Jeff Caringola, a Valencia resident who can still run up and down the court with the players during practice.

"It's a good thing, too, because I can't do that anymore,"Hartung said. "We need a coach who can get out there and play so we can run scrimmages during practice.

"I'm not here to baby-sit the program. I'm not just rolling out the balls, I'm doing all I can to win. I'm going to give this all I've got.

"At the end of the season, I'll pack the uniforms away and say goodbye again. But we have a lot of work to do between now and then,"Hartung added.

Butler County Community College2006-07 scheduleNov. 3-at Penn State-New Kensington (exhibition.),6 p.m.;

Nov. 8-PENNSTATE-BEAVER(exhibition.), 7 p.m.;

Nov. 11-at Northampton, 8 p.m.;

Nov. 12-at Harrisburg Community College, 3 p.m.;

Nov. 14-at Geneva JV's, 7 p.m.;

Nov. 18-KENTSTATE-TUSCARAWAS, 2 p.m.;

Nov. 21-at Seton Hill JV's, 7 p.m.

Dec. 2-WAYNESBURGJV's, 2 p.m.;

Dec. 4-GENEVAJV's, 7 p.m.;

Dec. 6-SETONHILLJV's, 7 p.m.;