Maltony resigns as Wash High girls basketball coach
Sometimes, it’s a feeling a coach gets.
That might be the best way to explain why Mike Maltony resigned as girls varsity head basketball coach at Washington High School.
The 52-year-old Maltony submitted his resignation to the school board this week, ending an 11-year stint as varsity coach. He began there as an assistant coach in 2004 and the Prexies made the playoffs each year after that.
“It was a hard decision, but it was something I just needed to do,” said Maltony. “It wasn’t something I planned. I’m still relatively young so I’m going to explore my options. I can see myself coaching again.”
Washington athletic director Mike Bosnic said the opening will be posted in-house first, then to the public if no viable candidate emerges.
Maltony said his assistant coach, Mike Macik, also was leaving.
Maltony compiled a record of 179-92 with his best season coming in his first as head coach, 2007-08. The Prexies made it to the WPIAL Class AA semifinals and qualified for the state tournament and finished with a 24-3 record that year.
“We had Jordan Jackson, Jocelyn Floyd, Marguerite Sargent, Jenna Phillips,” Maltony recalled. “All those players who came through were special.”
Washington finished with a 15-7 record and a first-round loss in the WPIAL playoffs this year.
Maltony said coaching his daughter, Mikala, for four years was a highlight to his coaching career. Mikala Maltony graduated two years ago and is attending Akron University, where she is pursing a nursing degree.
Maltony had 10 winning seasons in his 11-year career, and said the Prexies had a certain “mystique” about them.
“That was the best thing about coaching them,” he said. “For other teams, it was like going against the New England Patriots. Everyone wants to beat the Patriots. Everyone played harder against us and it gave them a sense of (accomplishment) if they could beat us.”
Maltony is a 1984 graduate of Burgettstown High School, where he was a member of the basketball team. He didn’t play in college but did get a teaching degree from California University in the early 1990s.
He coached 9th-grade basketball and spent time as an assistant on the junior varsity at Burgettstown. He also coached volleyball.
“I had fun and now it’s time for something different,” he said. “I wish them nothing but the best. I hope they continue on with the success.”