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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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