Waynesburg president Timothy Thyreen announced Monday that head men's coach Rudy Marisa has retired after 34 years of coaching. Marisa will remain the school's athletic director. Frank Ferraro will become the interim coach for the 2003-2004 season.
“During his lengthy tenure, Coach Marisa has exemplified the highest ideals of Waynesburg College through his commitment to a quality program,” Thyreen said. “Yet, the ultimate measure of his accomplishments is not in his winning record, but in the impact on the hundreds of lives of student-athletes for whom he has served as friend, mentor and coach.”
Marisa, who based his decision stemming from recent health problems, spent his entire collegiate coaching career at Waynesburg amassing a 565-300 record since his first year in 1969-1970.
“After 34 years it is difficult, if not impossible, to summarize my career,” Marisa said, “but I will say that it has been exciting and extremely rewarding.”
In NCAA history, Marisa is tied for 53rd in career wins across all divisions with two other coaches, including former West Virginia coach Gale Catlett. At the conclusion of last season, he was tied for 17th among active coaches. In the Division III ranks, Marisa is seventh all-time in wins and fourth among active coaches in wins and second in tenure prior to his resignation.
Waynesburg had success under Marisa's guidance as an NAIA school in the 1980s. He had seven teams during the decade earn berths in the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City, including the 1987-1988 team, which won a school-record 32 games while advancing to the national semifinals.
In October 1999, the school named its gymnasium The Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse, nine months after he won his 500th game.
Marisa acknowledged the role played by the Waynesburg administration. “The support that I've received from the Waynesburg College administration has allowed my tenure to be both enjoyable and successful,” Marisa said. “The relationship I have with president Thyreen and vice president Skip Noftzger goes beyond our professional contacts. We are personal friends, and we have excellent relationships.”
With the retirement of Marisa from coaching, Ferraro will assume the duties of head coach for the 2003-04 season. Endorsed strongly by Marisa, Ferraro will begin his new responsibilities immediately in order to prepare for the upcoming season.
“As excited as I am in getting the new job, I am sad to see someone of his caliber stepping away,” said Ferraro, who has served as an assistant coach with Marisa for the past two seasons. “It is an honor and privilege to follow a man of such quality at an institution of such quality.”
Ferraro, a resident of Robinson Twp., previously coached at South Fayette, Burgettstown and Moon high schools for a combined 25 years before coming to Waynesburg in 2001.
Waynesburg finished last year with a 16-9 record and a 6-4 record in the Presidents' Athletic Conference.