Edinboro's Walcavich Announces Retirement (3-7-13)
By: Craig Smylie (Credit: Bob Shreve)
Updated: March 8, 2013
Men's Basketball Coach Greg Walcavich Announces His Retirement
Edinboro's Greg Walcavich has announced his retirement after 31 seasons as a head coach.
EDINBORO, Pa. - After 24 years as the Edinboro men's basketball coach and 31 years overall as a head coach, Greg Walcavich
today announced his retirement. The Fighting Scots concluded the
2012-13 season on Tuesday with an 89-87 overtime loss at 13th-ranked
Indiana(Pa.).
The defeat in the PSAC quarterfinals left Edinboro with a final record of 18-10, marking the 20th season in his long tenure that the Fighting Scots had a non-losing season. It also was his 15th campaign with 18-or-more wins. That includes ten seasons with 20-or-more wins.
Walcavich was hired as Edinboro's head coach in 1989 after a highly-successful two-year stint at West Virginia Wesleyan. His tenure at Edinboro has been earmarked by winning basketball teams. He surpassed Jim McDonald for the school record for career wins during the 1998-99 season, and has since placed his name among the elite coaches in the PSAC and NCAA Division II.
Walcavich departs Edinboro with a record of 430-251, and including seven seasons as a head coach at West Virginia Wesleyan and Birmingham Southern, owns a career mark of 584-314. He opened the 2012-13 campaign leading all active PSAC coaches in career victories, and ranked sixth among all active Division II coaches. Only Clarion's Ron Righter outranked him in terms of longevity in the conference. His 430 wins ranks second all-time in the PSAC to Bloomsburg's Charles Chronister (559 wins).
Edinboro won three PSAC championships and qualified for the PSAC Tournament 17 times in his 24 seasons. With PSAC titles in 2004-05 and 2005-06, Walcavich became the first coach to lead a PSAC team to back-to-back titles since the legendary John Chaney guided Cheyney to PSAC championships in 1976-80.
Under Walcavich, Edinboro was selected to compete in the NCAA Division
II playoffs six times. His 1997-98 squad ended the year with a 26-8
record, winning the PSAC Championship for the first time in thirty years
and advancing to the East Regional semifinals. The 26 wins is a school
record. He was selected as the PSAC West Coach of the Year for the
second time, also receiving the honor in 2000-01.
Walcavich guided the 2004-05 and 2007-08 teams to identical 24-7 records, capturing the PSAC West both seasons. All told Edinboro was the PSAC East regular season champion four years under Walcavich, and finished second nine times.
In April 2010 Walcavich was recognized for his outstanding career at Edinboro as he was inducted into the Edinboro Hall of Fame.
Prior to taking over the Edinboro program, Walcavich spent two seasons as the head coach at West Virginia Wesleyan. He led the Bobacts to a 40-19 record during that period. He served as the head coach at Birmingham Southern from 1978-83, compiling a 114-44 record during that five-year period, with two trips to the NAIA National Tournament and Coach of the Year honors three times. He had a total of 15 20-win seasons in his 31 years as a head coach.
While at Birmingham Southern as the head coach, Walcavich was recognized nationally in 1981, being selected as an assistant coach for the United State Olympic Festival in Syracuse, NY. He coached future NBA stars, including Michael Jordan.
A 1973 graduate of Rutgers University, and the holder of a master's degree from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, Walcavich began his coaching career at Birmingham Southern in 1973, staying there for four seasons before obtaining his first head coaching job at Alexander City(AL) Junior College in 1977.
In 1983, Walcavich moved on to the Division I ranks as an assistant coach at Rice University. He was involved in some of the biggest wins in Owls' basketball history, including triumphs over Arkansas, Houston and Notre Dame. He departed Rice after four seasons to take over as the head coach at West Virginia Wesleyan.
In regards to Walcavich's replacement, Baumgartner noted that the University is currently analyzing all options and will announce a plan of action in the near future.
The defeat in the PSAC quarterfinals left Edinboro with a final record of 18-10, marking the 20th season in his long tenure that the Fighting Scots had a non-losing season. It also was his 15th campaign with 18-or-more wins. That includes ten seasons with 20-or-more wins.
"Greg Walcavich has left an indelible mark on the Edinboro men's basketball program," remarked Director of Athletics Bruce Baumgartner.
"Greg has always been a survivor and a fighter, and his teams have
reflected that nature. For years he has managed to keep our men's
basketball team highly competitive as the landscape of the PSAC
continues to change. We wish him nothing but the very best and thank
him for the countless hours he has devoted to this University as a coach
and educator."
Walcavich was hired as Edinboro's head coach in 1989 after a highly-successful two-year stint at West Virginia Wesleyan. His tenure at Edinboro has been earmarked by winning basketball teams. He surpassed Jim McDonald for the school record for career wins during the 1998-99 season, and has since placed his name among the elite coaches in the PSAC and NCAA Division II.
Walcavich departs Edinboro with a record of 430-251, and including seven seasons as a head coach at West Virginia Wesleyan and Birmingham Southern, owns a career mark of 584-314. He opened the 2012-13 campaign leading all active PSAC coaches in career victories, and ranked sixth among all active Division II coaches. Only Clarion's Ron Righter outranked him in terms of longevity in the conference. His 430 wins ranks second all-time in the PSAC to Bloomsburg's Charles Chronister (559 wins).
Edinboro won three PSAC championships and qualified for the PSAC Tournament 17 times in his 24 seasons. With PSAC titles in 2004-05 and 2005-06, Walcavich became the first coach to lead a PSAC team to back-to-back titles since the legendary John Chaney guided Cheyney to PSAC championships in 1976-80.
Greg Walcavich has led the Fighting Scots for the past 24 years.
Walcavich guided the 2004-05 and 2007-08 teams to identical 24-7 records, capturing the PSAC West both seasons. All told Edinboro was the PSAC East regular season champion four years under Walcavich, and finished second nine times.
In April 2010 Walcavich was recognized for his outstanding career at Edinboro as he was inducted into the Edinboro Hall of Fame.
Prior to taking over the Edinboro program, Walcavich spent two seasons as the head coach at West Virginia Wesleyan. He led the Bobacts to a 40-19 record during that period. He served as the head coach at Birmingham Southern from 1978-83, compiling a 114-44 record during that five-year period, with two trips to the NAIA National Tournament and Coach of the Year honors three times. He had a total of 15 20-win seasons in his 31 years as a head coach.
While at Birmingham Southern as the head coach, Walcavich was recognized nationally in 1981, being selected as an assistant coach for the United State Olympic Festival in Syracuse, NY. He coached future NBA stars, including Michael Jordan.
A 1973 graduate of Rutgers University, and the holder of a master's degree from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, Walcavich began his coaching career at Birmingham Southern in 1973, staying there for four seasons before obtaining his first head coaching job at Alexander City(AL) Junior College in 1977.
In 1983, Walcavich moved on to the Division I ranks as an assistant coach at Rice University. He was involved in some of the biggest wins in Owls' basketball history, including triumphs over Arkansas, Houston and Notre Dame. He departed Rice after four seasons to take over as the head coach at West Virginia Wesleyan.
In regards to Walcavich's replacement, Baumgartner noted that the University is currently analyzing all options and will announce a plan of action in the near future.
Greg Walcavich's Head Coaching Career Year-By-Year
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| Year | School | Record | Pct. | Place | Highlights |
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| 1978-79 | Birmingham Southern | 29-4 | .879 |
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NAIA National Tournament |
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| 1979-80 | Birmingham Southern | 23-9 | .719 |
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| 1980-81 | Birmingham Southern | 22-8 | .733 |
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| 1981-82 | Birmingham Southern | 18-15 | .545 |
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| 1982-83 | Birmingham Southern | 22-8 | .733 |
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| 1987-88 | West Virginia Wesleyan | 18-10 | .643 |
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| 1988-89 | West Virginia Wesleyan | 22-9 | .710 |
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| 1989-90 | Edinboro | 22-5 | .815 | T2nd | PSAC Playoffs |
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| 1990-91 | Edinboro | 18-10 | .643 | T2nd | PSAC Playoffs |
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| 1991-92 | Edinboro | 20-9 | .690 | 2nd | PSAC Playoffs |
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| 1992-93 | Edinboro | 17-12 | .414 | 6th |
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| 1993-94 | Edinboro | 20-8 | .714 | 3rd | NCAA Qualifier |
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| 1994-95 | Edinboro | 15-11 | .577 | 3rd |
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| 1995-96 | Edinboro | 21-8 | .724 | 3rd | PSAC Playoffs/NCAA Qualifier |
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| 1996-97 | Edinboro | 13-14 | .481 | T2nd | PSAC Playoffs |
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| 1997-98 | Edinboro | 26-8 | .765 | 2nd | PSAC Champion/NCAA Qualifier |
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| 1998-99 | Edinboro | 16-12 | .571 | T3rd | PSAC Playoffs |
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| 1999-00 | Edinboro | 13-13 | .500 | 5th |
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| 2000-01 | Edinboro | 21-7 | .750 | 1st | PSAC Playoffs |
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| 2001-02 | Edinboro | 18-9 | .667 | T1st | PSAC Playoffs |
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| 2002-03 | Edinboro | 18-10 | .643 | 2nd | PSAC Playoffs |
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| 2003-04 | Edinboro | 15-13 | .536 | 2nd | PSAC Playoffs |
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| 2004-05 | Edinboro | 24-7 | .774 | T1st | PSAC Champion/NCAA Qualifier |
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| 2005-06 | Edinboro | 21-10 | .677 | 2nd | PSAC Champion/NCAA Qualifier |
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| 2006-07 | Edinboro | 20-9 | .690 | 2nd | PSAC Playoffs |
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| 2007-08 | Edinboro | 24-7 | .774 | T1st | PSAC Playoffs/NCAA Qualifier |
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| 2008-09 | Edinboro | 18-10 | .643 | 4th | PSAC Playoffs |
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| 2009-10 | Edinboro | 11-16 | .407 | 6th |
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| 2010-11 | Edinboro | 13-15 | .464 | T6th |
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| 2011-12 | Edinboro | 13-13 | .500 | T5th |
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| 2012-13 | Edinboro | 18-10 | .643 | 4th | PSAC Playoffs |
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| 31 Seasons |
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584-314 | .651 |
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Six NCAA Tournaments/Sixteen PSAC Tournaments/Three PSAC Championships | |||||
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Birmingham Southern |
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114-44 | 5 years |
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West Virginia Wesleyan |
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40-19 | 2 years |
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Edinboro |
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430-251 | 24 years |
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CAREER |
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584-314 | 31 years |
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