We have spent the season acknowledging the top individual efforts on the basketball courts of Western Pennsylvania with the KDKA Radio Super 7 Watch List. But today, as we approach this week’s WPIAL Championship games, we honor the coaches.
KDKA Radio is proud to announce the winners of the Super 7 Basketball Coach of the Year Awards, given out to the top coaches from each WPIAL boys and girls classification and the Pittsburgh City League.
“We are privileged to honor these phenomenal leaders every year, and the list this year is as good as ever,” said Michael Spacciapolli, senior vice president and market manager of Audacy Pittsburgh. “I know how difficult it is for our panel to select the winners, as there are so many great coaches across the WPIAL and City League.”
Below are the winners of the KDKA Super 7 Coach of the Year Awards.
BOYS
Class 6A: Ralph Blundo, New Castle
Blundo, one of the WPIAL’s most successful coaches of all-time, led a bounce-back for the Red Hurricanes this season following a miss of the playoffs in 2023-24. New Castle won 19 games in the regular season and took the Section 1-6A titles at 11-3, and will play for a WPIAL title Friday.
Class 5A: Corey Dotchin, Chartiers Valley
In his first year with the Colts, Dotching led one of the most impressive turnarounds in the WPIAL, taking Chartiers Valley from an 11-win season to 19 victories in the regular season. The Colts, as the No. 4 seed in 5A, upsets top-ranked Montour in the semifinals to reach the WPIAL Championships.
Class 4A: Joe Frank, Avonworth
In his first season, Frank led the Antelopes to a 17-5 overall record in the regular season and split of the Section 2-4A title with Beaver. But the ‘Lopes did their best work out of section, with impressive wins over North Hills, Woodland Hills, Penn Hills, Bishop Canevin and Northgate. Avonworth fell by a point to Belle Vernon in the WPIAL semifinals.
Class 3A: Tony DiCenzo, South Allegheny
Using the classification’s second-best offense at 67.5 points per game, the Gladiators finished unbeaten in Section 3-3A and 19-3 overall during the regular season. South Allegheny won four more section games in 2024-2025 than it did a year prior, and will meet Aliquippa for the Class 3A title Saturday.
Class 2A: John Corey, Neshannock
Corey’s defense paced Neshannock in 2024-2025, allowing a measly 41 points per game. The Lancers finished the regular season 19-2, with seven straight wins to close out the year, resulting in the Section 4-2A title. Neshannock fell to Union in the Class 2A semifinals.
Class 1A: Jordan Marks, Neighborhood Academy
Regardless of classification, Neighborhood Academy looked like one of the WPIAL’s best teams this year with a 21-1 record and 10-0 mark in Section 2-1A. The only regular season loss for Marks — the former Pitt men’s basketball staff member — came to Class 4A Beaver. Neighborhood will look for a third win over Serra Catholic this season in Thursday’s 1A Championship.
City League: Devin Crummie, Allderdice
Crummie has helped the Dragons establish a City League dynasty. Allderdice went 13-9 in the regular season, frequently testing itself against some of the top programs in Western Pennsylvania, before claiming the City League title for a fifth straight year. The Dragons fell in the PIAA Regional Semifinals to McDowell Tuesday.
GIRLS
Class 6A: Dorothea Epps, Seneca Valley
Seneca Valley put together a nice, turnaround season in 2024-2025 with a 15-6 regular season record and 10-0 mark in Section 1-6A. The Raiders won six more section games this year following a 4-6 record in 2023-2024. Seneca Valley reached the 6A quarterfinals, falling to Mt. Lebanon.
Class 5A: John Giannikas, Penn-Trafford
One of three teams in the WPIAL to finish the regular season unbeaten, the Warriors went 22-0 and 12-0 in Section 2-5A. Penn-Trafford doubled its section win total this season, while also scoring quality non-section wins over Seneca Valley, Allderdice, Norwin and Upper St. Clair. Penn-Trafford lost to Thomas Jefferson in overtime in the quarterfinals, but clinched a spot in the PIAA playoffs.
Class 4A: Greg Huston, Blackhawk
After falling in the WPIAL title game last year, Blackhawk has appeared to be on a mission to win it all in 2024-2025. Huston’s team went 20-2 in the regular season, winning Section 2-4A and finishing the regular season with 13 straight wins. The Cougars have been just as strong in the postseason and will meet Oakland Catholic Saturday for the 4A title.
Class 3A: Jonna Burke, Shady Side Academy
Despite some key offseason losses, the Bulldogs also finished the regular season unbeaten at 22-0, winning the Section 2-3A championship. Shady Side Academy scored nice non-section wins over larger schools such as Baldwin, Seneca Valley, Blackhawk, Pine-Richland and Butler. The Bulldogs will meet Greensburg Central Catholic Thursday at the Petersen Events Center.
Class 2A: Laura Montecalvo, Chartiers-Houston
Chartiers-Houston closed the regular season with six consecutive wins, allowing 26 or less points in each game. The Bucs ended the regular season at 18-4 and 10-0 in Section 3-2A. Montecalvo — the daughter of WPIAL Hall of Famer Guy Montecalvo — ran a defense that led the WPIAL in points allowed per game at just 26.6. The Bucs fell in the quarterfinals to Winchester-Thurston, but are still alive for a PIAA postseason berth.
Class 1A: Sara Larkin, Geibel Catholic
Geibel, a small Catholic school in Connellsville, has done some big things on the court this year. The Gators finished the regular season 21-1 and 13-1 in Section 2-1A, with its last and only loss coming at section rival Clairton on December 16. Geibel fell in the WPIAL semifinals to that same Clairton team, but will meet Aquinas Wednesday night in the 1A consolation game.
City League: Ellen Guillard, Allderdice
Allderdice took another City League title this year with a 19-5 record and 10-0 mark in the league. The Dragons challenged themselves with games against tough WPIAL opponents all season before their 52-45 win over Obama Academy in the City League Championship on February 16.
High school basketball broadcasts continue this week as KDKA Radio will broadcast all 12 WPIAL Basketball Championships from Thursday-Saturday at the Petersen Events Center. You can hear the games on 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA.