I mentioned this one in the Daily Dirt back on 3/18 – it’s now official. Patrick Gribbs has been promoted to head basketball coach at Pitt Johnstown. Here’s the official announcement from the school:
The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Athletics Department is proud to announce Patrick Grubbs as the 12th head men’s basketball coach in program history. Following a thorough and competitive interview process, Grubbs distinguished himself as the clear choice to lead the Mountain Cats into their next chapter. One of the most decorated players in Mountain Cat history and a 12-year assistant under legendary head coach Bob Rukavina, Grubbs brings an unparalleled connection to Pitt-Johnstown basketball — as a record-setting player, a trusted coach, and a proud alumnus of the institution.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to Coach Rukavina for his decades of dedicated service to our university and the student-athletes he mentored throughout his tenure — his impact will never be forgotten. As we turn the page to a new chapter, we are excited to welcome Patrick as the next leader of our Men’s Basketball Program. Pat stands out as the complete package, embodying every quality we sought in a potential new coach. As an institution, we are confident that the future of our program continues to be bright!” said Mike Drahos, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Athletics.
Director of Athletics Abby Gearhart shared, “Patrick has been an integral part of this program for over a decade. He had the privilege of learning from the very best in Coach Bob Rukavina, and that foundation is evident in everything he does. His passion for Pitt-Johnstown basketball, his experience, and the respect he commands from players, staff, and our alumni community make him the right person to carry this program forward.” For Gearhart, the decision went beyond credentials and basketball — it came down to the kind of coach and person Patrick Grubbs has always been. Gearhart added, “What truly sets Patrick apart is how intentional he is in his relationships with his players — he genuinely pours into them on and off the court, investing in them as people first and players second. Patrick has given his heart and soul to the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, and this position is not just a job for him — it is a calling. We are thrilled to see him step into this role.”
While the search process was open and competitive, it is no secret that retiring head coach Bob Rukavina — the program’s all-time winningest coach with 577 victories across 37 seasons — made clear upon announcing his retirement that Grubbs would have been his first choice to carry the program forward. After a thorough interview process, the athletics department arrived at the same conclusion. The sentiment was equally strong throughout the Mountain Cat alumni community, where Grubbs — beloved as both a player and a coach — has long been viewed as the natural successor to lead the program he helped build.
For Rukavina, this moment is decades in the making — and deeply personal.
“I want to congratulate my assistant coach Pat Grubbs on being named the new head coach here at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. It is a very special moment for me to watch a young man that I have known since he was 5 years old, who I watched grow up shooting on the side baskets of gyms as his dad and I played pick-up games,” said Rukavina. “Beyond watching him grow up, I had the privilege of coaching Patrick and watching him develop as a person and become one of the best players in Pitt-Johnstown history. He has more than paid his dues spending 12 seasons as my assistant, earning a reputation as the best assistant coach in the PSAC. He is a better person than he is a coach. He is not only a colleague, but like a second son and one of my best friends. I think Pat will take our Pitt-Johnstown basketball program to another level. I wish him the best of luck with the challenges he will face in the now chaotic world of college athletics. I will be his number one fan!”
Grubbs is widely regarded among his peers as a master analyst of film, bringing a meticulous and thorough approach to game preparation that has become one of his greatest coaching strengths. Those who have competed against Pitt-Johnstown in recent years know the feeling well — time and again, opponents have found themselves facing a Mountain Cat team that seemed to know their own plays better than they did. It is that level of preparation and attention to detail that will now set the tone for the program he leads.
Grubbs, a native of Turtle Creek, Pa. and a graduate of Serra Catholic High School, is one of the most accomplished players in the 79-year history of Mountain Cat basketball. Rukavina first recruited Grubbs at Serra Catholic High School, where he watched him score 20 points in the fourth quarter to help lead his team to a Pennsylvania state championship — a performance that foreshadowed everything that was to come. As a member of the 2008-09 NCAA Tournament team, he experienced Pitt-Johnstown basketball at its highest level — a standard he now inherits as head coach. He remains the program’s all-time leader in rebounds with 996 — a record that stands alone atop the record books — and ranks fifth all-time in scoring with 1,759 career points. His career rebound average of 8.6 rebounds per game ranks fourth in program history. An extraordinarily efficient scorer, Grubbs finished in the Top-10 in the nation in field goal percentage in three of his four seasons, including leading all of NCAA Division II in 2009-10 at 66.3%. His 64.7% career field goal percentage ranks among the best in program history. He was the team’s leading rebounder in four seasons and led both scoring and rebounding in 2010-11.
After graduating from Pitt-Johnstown in 2013 with a Bachelor’s Degree in History, Grubbs spent a year coaching at the prestigious IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL, before returning to Johnstown to join Rukavina’s staff full-time in 2014-15. He had previously served as a student-assistant coach during the 2012-13 season, meaning his connection to the Mountain Cat program spans virtually his entire adult life — as a player, a student-coach, and now as the program’s head coach.
His impact as a recruiter has been equally significant. Among the players Grubbs helped bring to Pitt-Johnstown are Fred Mulbah, the program’s all-time leader in assists, NABC All-American John Paul Kromka, and All-Atlantic Region performer Baden Forup — along with numerous all-conference performers who have helped define the program’s identity in recent years. His ability to identify, recruit, and develop talent at the Division II level gives the Mountain Cat program a strong foundation heading into his first season at the helm.
“I would first like to thank President Dr. Jem Spectar, Vice President for Student Affairs & Athletics Mike Drahos, and Athletic Director Abby Gearhart for entrusting me to lead the Men’s Basketball program. I am beyond excited for the opportunity and look forward to building onto the success we’ve had here. I owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to Coach Rukavina for helping me grow as a young coach and man. I hope I am able to make him proud by carrying on his legacy and success!” expressed Grubbs.
Grubbs inherits a proud program that plays on Rich Ragan Family Court inside the Sports Center — a 2,400-seat arena where the Mountain Cats have historically won nearly 80% of their home games. Under Rukavina, the program made five NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, posted 10 twenty-win seasons, and graduated over 90 percent of its student-athletes.
Patrick Grubbs officially assumes the role of head coach effective July 1, 2026. Pitt-Johnstown will conduct a search for an assistant coach to join Grubbs’ staff. Details regarding the search process will be announced at a later date.
