It’s the end of an era for Point Park University women’s basketball. Tony Grenek has resigned as the Pioneers’ women’s basketball head coach. Grenek led the Pioneers to a record of 206-101 (.671) the past 11 seasons.
“After 11 years of coaching our women’s basketball program, I think it’s time for a new voice to be heard, and I think it’s time for me to take on another challenge as my own two children are growing older and being involved in activities,” said Grenek. “It’s been a great run here. Not too many coaches get to leave on their own terms and on positive terms. I am getting to do both and still be a part of Point Park University.”
“We thank Tony Grenek for 11 years as head coach of Point Park women’s basketball,” said John Ashaolu, Director of Athletics. “He brought about the best success the program has ever experienced on the court and in the classroom. We are proud of his time here and all the student-athletes and graduates who came during his time. We wish him well in his next challenge.”
Grenek finished up his 11th season last weekend with a record of 14-11 this year. Earlier on in the season, he picked up his 200th career win. Grenek is the program’s all-time leader in victories, and he surpassed the previous total of 81 in his fourth year.
Point Park women’s basketball experienced its most success under Grenek. He led the Pioneers to their first-ever NAIA national tournaments, which included three straight trips in Grenek’s first three years of 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. All three of those were with conference championship titles, the first one in the American Mideast Conference and the last two in the River States Conference (then known as KIAC).
Grenek’s 206 career wins came in just 10 full seasons. In the 10 years other than the 2020-21 season — which was shortened to 10 games and a 6-4 record due to COVID — the Pioneers racked up 200 wins for an average of 20 wins per season.
Grenek had four 20-win seasons, and eight of the 11 seasons included 17 or more wins. Point Park made the conference playoffs eight times under Grenek.
Grenek’s teams were also successful in the classroom. This past year, Point Park women’s basketball ranked sixth in the NAIA with a team GPA of 3.71 on the WBCA Academic Top 25 Honor Roll. The Pioneers made the academic Top 25 multiple times during Grenek’s tenure.
Grenek coached numerous all-conference selections, an NAIA All-American, several academic All-Americans, many academic all-conference scholar-athletes, a Pioneer Athletic Hall of Famer and some likely future Hall of Famers as well.
“I am very blessed and thankful for all the wonderful student-athletes that I have coached here at Point Park,” Grenek said. “They all have given me their heart and soul. I am also very blessed for all the wonderful relationships that I have built here within the athletic department — coaches, support staff and other members of the university. I will always be thankful for Dan Swalga hiring me and giving me this opportunity.”
“Fortunately, I will get continue to work at Point Park University, just in a different department. And I will be able to help students just in a different way outside of the basketball coaching element. I am very thankful for that because I love Point Park University.”
Grenek will continue at Point Park as a Student Success Coordinator in the Center for Student Success.
http://www.pointparksports.com/article/4763
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