Al Modrejewski, an experienced coach and recruiter who has been an assistant coach at Clarion University for 21 years, was named today as Interim Men’s Basketball Coach at Clarion University until the search for new head coach has been completed.
Modrejewski steps in for former head coach Ron Righter, who led the Golden Eagles for the last 26 years and stepped down as head coach on July 8.
"I am pleased to announce that Al Modrejewski has been named Interim Men’s Basketball Coach here at Clarion University and will remain in that role until we complete our national search and name a new head basketball coach," said Athletic Director Dave Katis. "Al is a loyal and dedicated coach here at Clarion and has been an integral part of this program, especially recruiting quality student athletes. We are happy to have Al serve in this role at this important time for the men’s program."
"I have been a part of Clarion Basketball for 21 years and I am happy to serve as Interim Coach to show we have stability here in this program," said Modrejewski. "I want to take this opportunity to thank my mentor, Ron Righter, for his help and guidance over my career. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. As the Interim Head Coach I look forward to providing a bridge to the next era of Clarion basketball."
A native of Pittsburgh, Pa. and a 1980 graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School, Modrejewski came to Clarion from Point Park College in 1989-90 season and helped the Golden Eagles to 91 wins in six seasons, including 19 wins in 1992 and 17 in 1993, before leaving the Golden Eagles to spend one season as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I St. Francis (N.Y.) in 1996, two NCAA Division II playoff seasons at Pitt-Johnstown (1997 & 98) and one season at fellow PSAC member East Stroudsburg (1999).
Al returned to Clarion in August 1999, and in his first season back the Golden Eagles won 20 games and the PSAC West title before following that up with 19 wins, the PSAC title and NCAA Division II playoff berth in 2001. In his 15 years back on Clarion’s bench, the Golden Eagles have averaged nearly 16 wins per season (15.6) while making the PSAC Playoffs nine times.
Coach Al has been a part of 315 wins at Clarion and has been an assistant coach for a pair of PSAC West titles (2000 & 2005), the school’s lone PSAC Title (2001) and one trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs (2001).
An experienced, knowledgeable and widely recognized coach, Al is considered one of the top recruiters in NCAA Division II basketball. Top recruits of Al’s include the school’s all-time leading scorer, Kwame Morton and Oronn Brown, who set the NCAA Division II career steals marks during his playing days, both of whom were All-Americans. In all, Al has helped recruit or coached fifteen 1,000-point career scorers for the Golden Eagles.
A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Al graduated from Thomas Jefferson High in 1980 and attended Alliance College (Cambridge Springs, Pa.). The Sports Information Director as a student from 1981-84 and Sports Editor of "The Eagle", he graduated in 1984 with a degree in Communications.
The SID and Assistant basketball coach at Alliance under Ted Haluch in 1985, he was a G.A. in Sports Info at Point Park in 1986 and assistant coach at St. Mary’s College (Michigan) in 1987. He returned to Point Park and was assistant coach and recruiting coordinator under Jerry Conboy for the 1988 and 1989 seasons before coming to Clarion.
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