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FINAL HOME GAME PRESS RELEASE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 17, 2005

Contact:  KeepJohnDzik.com Press Contact

Radnor, Pa. – With the days numbered for Cabrini College Head Men’s Basketball Coach John Dzik and his staff, the Cavaliers wrote another chapter in its storied history on a night when Dzik and Cabrini’s coaching staff were honored for their 25 years of service to the College and its community by Cabrini’s alumni.

The Dixon Center was at near capacity with over 1,000 alumni, family and friends in attendance for the final regular season men’s basketball game of the 2004-2005 season, as well as in the careers of Dzik and his coaching staff.

The team did not disappoint, as it produced a memorable come-from-behind, 68-62, victory over visiting Neumann College. The victory lifted the Cavs to 12-11 overall and more importantly to a second-place finish in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC) with a 7-6 mark. The win secured a home first round playoff game when the PAC playoffs commence on Feb. 19, as Cabrini will host Neumann once again.

While there was a basketball game being played with postseason implications, the end of the night was about honoring John Dzik and his coaching staff. Along with Dzik, Mike Keeley and Joe Kelly have been on a roller coaster ride for the past 25 years that has produced 695 games, 481 victories, 8 PAC Championships and 15 overall conference titles as well as 7 NCAA Tournament Appearances (11 overall including NAIA postseason bids).

In addition to the above trio, Rob Rowe (18 years) and Don Hartnett (12 years) have also been long-time members of the coaching staff and were recognized for their efforts as well. All five are Delaware County residents.

For the second time in 11 days (the first coming on Feb. 5 at the annual Cavaliers alumni game), Cabrini’s alumni community came together to celebrate the impact of these five men on their lives and the College.

Once again, no one from the College administration could be found in attendance to talk to disenfranchised alumni about the decision not to renew Dzik’s contract at the conclusion of the season. In fact, on a night when the entire Cabrini community should have come together to celebrate John Dzik, Mike Keeley, Joe Kelly, Rob Rowe and Don Hartnett, only the alumni, student body and faculty could be seen in the crowd.

The alumni and www.keepjohndzik.com organized the post-game event that saw former players and students come back to talk about their mentors and role models. Steve Harrow, Cabrini Class of 1999, presented Hartnett with a plaque that all five coaches received from the alumni to commemorate their years of service to the basketball program and the College. John Mack, ’98, presented and spoke about Rowe. Chris Pesotski, ’92, honored Keeley, while Mike Caraffa, ’92, recognized Kelly. Jana Tidwell, ’96, recognized the wives including Mary Kelly and Sue Dzik. Finally, it was Dzik’s turn, however one person could not do justice to his 25-year career as former players Eric Tidwell, ’96, and Michael Bennett, ’82, both spoke in length about the impact Dzik had on their lives. Current Cabrini captains Dan Clemens, ’05, and Messiah Reames, ’05, presented Dzik with the alumni plaque to end the program.

There is at least one more game left in the Cabrini coaching careers of Dzik and his staff, with the possibility of four if they can run the table and win the conference one more time, and earn the PAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Whatever the outcome in the next two weeks, Dzik and his coaching staff’s indelible mark and legacy have been left on the program and is evident by all the banners that hang on the walls of the Dixon Center.

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