WHY WE ARE DOING THIS

This site was created for two reasons - first, to get the message out on why John Dzik will no longer be the head coach of Cabrini College's men's basketball program following the conclusion of the 2004-2005 season, his 25th year in that position; and second, to get his contract renewed along with a public apology for making him and his family endure this ordeal in the first place (see Mission Statement).

The need for this site became evident immediately after concerns voiced to College officials over the decision were met with patronizing tones and explanations. It appeared as if the College was downplaying the amount of people who have contacted them in disagreement with their decision. This site is to serve notice that there are more than a handful of people (over 400 as of February 19, 2005) who feel that the decision to not allow Dzik remain as coach and the way that decision was carried out by the Cabrini Administration was a slap in the face to the CORE values the school preaches.

In no way is this site, or our efforts, designed to destroy Cabrini College. Our goal is to expose the College's Administration and it's treatment of its long-time employees as well as its straying from the College's CORE values and mission.

Dzik's impact on his players, student-athletes and the entire Cabrini College community is undisputed. He has faithfully served the mission of Mother Cabrini and the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, living the "education of the heart" that the College markets to attract new students.

His coaching resume is as long as it is impressive. As of February 19, 2005, his teams have won 482 games, while dropping only 215 contests. He has led Cabrini to 15 conference titles - including 8 Pennsylvania Athletic Conference banners; 11 national tournament appearances - including 7 NCAA Division III Tournament bids; and has won 5 Coach of the Year awards. While his teams continue to win (only one losing season, which occured 12 years ago), his players continue graduate with over 90 percent of them leaving Cabrini with college degrees.

When Dzik came to Cabrini in 1980, he was also named Director of Athletics, initiating and overseeing the College's changeover from an NAIA school to an NCAA institution, as well as adding numerous sports that have excelled at the Division III level including men's and women's lacrosse. Athletics was not all Dzik was involved in at Cabrini, as he also served as the College's director of admissions for short time in the early 1980s. In addition, Dzik has also served as a student advisor for many student groups including the Student Government Association, help found Cabrini Day which celebrates the College's fouding principles and could be seen at what appears like every athletic event as well as other activities occuring on campus. In 2004, Dzik along with his wife Suzie were named honorary alumnus for all that they have given to the Cabrini community.

In this day and age of scandal, cover-up and immoral behavior in collegiate athletics, Dzik has been a shining example of what is right in college sports. He has been a role model, ambassador and mentor to so many people. Arguably, he has been to Cabrini College what Joe Paterno has been to Penn State University.

The Timeline - what you should know to have an informed opinion ...

In July of 2003 Dzik was asked to step down as Cabrini College's Director of Athletics by President Antoinette Iadarola in order to make room for Dzik's six-year assistant Leslie Danehy. Dzik graciously stepped down as AD so that the College would not lose such a bright light and talented administrator. In return, the President created a brand-new position for Dzik - special assistant to the president for athletic advancement in the institutional advancement office.

In his new role in the IA office, Dzik's new duties would include fundraising, facilities development, beginning an athletic hall of fame as well as an athletic boosters club. In addition, he would continue to coach the men's basketball program.

Seventeen months later, the show fell as Dzik received a memo from the Vice President of Institutional Advancement Robin Moll stating that he would be required to take personal or vacation time whenever his coaching obligations took him out of the IA office. This was not agreement that the President made with him. In fact, when Dzik was Director of Athletics, he never had to take personal or vacation time to coach the men's basketball team.

Dzik decided that he was not willing to take vacation or personal time in order to coach the basketball team and resigned his position in IA with understanding that he would remain as head coach of the men's basketball program.

Several weeks later he was notified by the Vice President of Student Development Christine Lysionek (and not the Athletic Director Leslie Danehy) that his contract would not be renewed at the conclusion of the current season.

When Dzik asked why, Lysionek told him he was too angry to continue with the College to remain. This of course begs the question that if Lysionek felt Dzik was too angry to coach next season, why would she allow him to remain for the remainder of this season?

In the following days, when the news media contacted the College for an explanation, they were told that the College does not discuss personnel decisions. Finally, after several weeks, Iadarola, Moll and Lysionek went on the record (sort of) in the College newspaper The Loquitur about the decision not to renew Dzik's contract (that story can be found in our In the News section).

Moll stated in the article that the guidelines and expectations change for full-time salaried administrators of contract employees. (Moll by the way accepted her position as VP for IA in October of 2003, four months after Dzik made his agreement with the President.

In the article, Iadarola stated that Dzik resigned from IA to look for other opportunities in collegiate athletics, especially a desire to go to the Division II level. If the College does not discuss personnel matters, then why would the President reveal this?

Lysionek added that "the reasons that his contract wasn't renewed are exactly the contents of a decision that we're trying to say 'we really can't give those kinds of details.'" We are still trying to figure out that statement ...

Moll continued that the decision was done in good faith, by good people (Iadarola, Moll and Lysionek) that have the best interests of the College at heart. She stated that it is best not to question the reasoning of the administration. Last time I checked my Cabrini education, it taught me to question everything. "They have to trust people for a decision they will never understand." We are all Cabrini College educated students or graduates - try us.

Shortly after this article appeared in The Loquitur, an e-mail by Iadarola (rumored to have hired a consultant to draft) began being received by "select" alumni who had sent in e-mails to voice their disproval of the situation. In the e-mail, Iadarola did two things. First, she showed how she is really not in touch with the athletic department by mistakenly referencing Dzik's numerous state titles won at Cabrini. No college athletic program competes for a state title - that's high school.

Second, Iadarola revealed that she supported the decision by College officials (who remained unnamed) "that determined new leadership would align the men's basketball program more closely with the athletic department's strategic agenda for the future." Since the release of this e-mail, many alumni have asked for the President to explain why Dzik would not be able to accomplish this now after successfully doing it for the past 25 years. To date, we are unaware of any response from her.

These have been the last public statements made by Iadarola, Moll, Lysionek or other administration officials in regards to this decision. On February 17, 2005, Comcast SportsNet's Derrick Gunn came to Cabrini to give the administration the opportunity to tell its sides of the story, or to even elaborate on its comments from The Loquitur or the President's e-mail. They chose to not comment once again, which begs the question, why Iadarola, Moll and Lysionek would comment to the school newspaper and not the mainstream media?

Since this decision was made, it has also been revealed that the College has cut the benefits to its faculty members. A letter (which appears on the homepage) was sent to Iadarola for an explanation in November 2004, to date they have received no explanation.

Dzik's final day of employment at Cabrini College is March 18, 2005.