Throughout his collegiate and professional playing career, Mike Iuzzolino has had the opportunity to play in a variety of environments, including the highest level of professional basketball in the NBA, since being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in 1991.
Following the conclusion of his playing career, Iuzzolino worked as an assistant and associate head coach at numerous schools across the country under the tutelage of several head coaches, most recently working under head coach Andy Toole for the past eight seasons at Robert Morris University, first as an assistant coach and then as an associate head coach.
But after nearly two decades as an assistant coach at the collegiate level, Iuzzolino accepted the new Sewickley Academy boys basketball coaching job on May 15 and got the opportunity to return to coach the team, just as he did as a point guard during his playing days.
“For 19 years I was a suggester,” Iuzzolino said, “and 12 years as a point guard I was a leader, but there came a time when I wanted to be a head coach and take responsibility and be held accountable not just as a suggester but as a coach making decisions. I felt like now was the time.”
When pursuing a coaching career at the collegiate level, especially those who serve as associate head coaches at the Division I level, coaches will aspire to a head coaching position at a smaller Division I university or Division II.
But for Iuzzolino, an Altoona native, the chance to make an impact on high school students is what inspires him to take the next step in his coaching career.
“My degree from the University of St. Francis is in Education and Secondary Education. Something you probably don't know about me is that when I was the associate head coach at St. Vincent, I was a substitute teacher at various high schools in the area during my off time,” Iuzzolino said. “I'm excited about the opportunity to be able to make a positive impact in the lives of young students. I was named Academic Honor All-American while in college, I was drafted into the NBA and my career is going well, so I have a lot of knowledge to impart, especially at Sewickley Academy.”
“This is a great academic institution, and I want people to know that you can do both. [academics and athletics] There is still a chance to go pro.”
Not only was the decision to accept the position at Sewickley Academy an easy one because of the opportunity to coach students, but the fact that he was named Academic Honor All-American as a collegiate player, the emphasis on academic and athletic balance at the academy and the positive atmosphere at the school made the decision to take on the high school coaching role an easy one for Iuzzolino.
“There's a lot more to life than basketball,” Iuzzolino said. “I think this school embodies that and that's what I've always done. The school here really values that and that's what got me excited about Sewickley Academy. When I came and had a chance to meet with the school officials, they were all so friendly and put the students first and I was just blown away. It was such a positive atmosphere that it was hard to leave and have negative thoughts.”
During his collegiate career, he had the opportunity to be a part of every part of the collegiate coaching staff, including serving as an assistant coach for the women's basketball programs at Duquesne University and George Mason University, director of basketball operations at the University of New Mexico and Canisius College, and associate head coach at Saint Vincent College and Robert Morris University.
Iuzzolino believes having the opportunity to lead a program and be involved in all aspects of the program will help him grow as a coach, just as he did at the collegiate level.
“What's helped me grow as a coach is experiencing different aspects of a college program. I started in women's basketball, then became the director of basketball operations, then Division III. Each position is different, and in operations I got to learn not only the basketball side of things, but the administrative side of a program. At the Division III level, I got to wear 10-12 different hats. Not only do I get to help coach young people, but this has helped me grow as a coach. Some people will say I'm not coaching college basketball, but as a head coach at any level, you're responsible for every aspect of the program, and that will help me grow in my coaching abilities.”
Many coaches at the collegiate Division I level put so much time and effort into their programs that they don’t have time to participate in activities outside of their respective jobs.
Iuzzolino, whose son now plays at St. Vincent University, never had a chance to watch his son play because he was away for games and recruiting trips.
But now, Iuzzolino is stepping away from the heavy workload of coaching college basketball to coach high school at Sewickley Academy, a role he is excited to take on, allowing him more time for his family.
“Sometimes coaching at the Division I level can make your life less fulfilling,” Iuzzolino said, “I missed a lot of my son's games because of recruiting trips and game trips, so I wanted to see him play more because we've been practicing together every day since he was in the fifth or sixth grade. There were times when I missed games that I didn't want to miss, so this system allowed me to see my son for a little longer. That was another factor in the decision.”
Iusolino has been involved in the basketball world for over 30 years and has had the opportunity to excel on his own terms at every stage of his basketball journey, both as a player and coach.
With the ability to step down on his own accord, the Panthers’ new men’s basketball coach considers himself extremely fortunate to be able to lead the program through next winter’s 2024-25 season.
“It's really amazing to be able to choose to take this job,” Iuzzolino said. “When I retired, no one told me I wasn't good enough. I retired of my own volition. The same can be said for my journey as a college basketball coach. I've found a new path that I want to follow, and I couldn't be more excited about it.”
