Crisafulli Out At Westmont

[Basketball IQ]

Coach Shipman was a very good coach. I know that he and Roman were close while they were coaching against each other. They worked numerous camps together. During my playing days I was not at Johnstown, but as a player had regular contact with Shipman. Through camps, leagues, etc. Coach Ship helped form me into a much better basketball player. He's a great guy and instilled a lot of self confidence in me, which in turn lead to a good basketball career in college.

Any news on what he's doing now? Hope he's doing well.

[trojan nation #1]

This thread has gone from ridiculous to insane. Now the Trojan faithful are taking after the Westy people in bashing their own coach. What is the matter with you people? With all the experts on here, there should NEVER be a coaching position open in the state!

[Basketball IQ]

Roman is exactly what Johnstown needs. For someone to say that he is not a coach that does not discipline players is blasphemy. It takes at least two years, at the very minimum, to earn the respect and trust of his players. Roman is a coach that WILL lead his players in the right direction both on and off the court. He is very solid in the area of getting players deserved attention. Furthermore, he is a man of integrity that constantly puts his players first regardless of his own ambitions as a coach. At Johnstown you are extremely fortunate to have one of the brightest coaches in Western PA.

If you feel that Johnstown under achieved this year I think that you are kidding yourself. After seeing quite a few of Johnstown games this year it was clear that they did not have the "basketball players" to do a sufficient amount of damage in the state tourny. I think that people tend to forget that having good athletes does not translate to having good basketball players.

To have a great basketball team you need to have players who are committed to the cause and put their own agendas to the side in order to be successful as a team.

[wickedcrossover]

Basketball IQ, hit the nail on the head. Roman is a good coach and it does take more than a year (why I think Cristafulli shoud stick around a little longer). Most of the kids he'll get through to, however there will still be the few that no one would be able to get through to no matter what; unfotunately those few will be the ones he'll be graded on. The good thing is , though, the people who matter will know.

[MegaCoolMan]

For God's sake ... the man has two kids!!!!

[JTown]

Blake and Lee are at Thadeus Stevens college. Lee played this year, Blake will play next year. Blake did start the season but did not finish that is why he is not listed on the roster. Here is the list to look at together.

2008-2009 Player List Thadeus Stevens

Ryan Bleecher (Fr) - Lancaster Catholic High School
Steven Costa (So) - Halifax Area High School
Richard Craighead (Fr) - G.E.D.
Bryan Culler (So) - John Bartram High School
Matthew Dwyer (Fr) - Conestoga Valley High School
Billy Groff (So) - McCaskey High School
Linwood Hill (Fr) - Bushop McDevitt High School
Maurice Jackson (Fr) - Kennett High School
Steven Lee (Fr) - Johnstown High School
Miguel Linares (Fr) - McCaskey High School
Kevin Mosely (So) - Scotland School for Veteran's Children
Jerimey Parker (So) - Parkway Gamma High School
Antwine Tucker (Fr) - John Bartram High School
Antoine Woodward (Fr) - McCaskey High School

I was not taking a shot at Marcus, I think he is a great player and I know he had D1 offers. Personally I felt he could have had the same career (points, minutes, and competing at their conference level) at some of the d1 schools that offered him so I dont understand your statement about going to a school that cant compete.

[BESTofWESTmont]

What are you talking about? This forum is for the head coach situation at Westmont Hilltop.

[pats39]

Lee is only a freshman?

[stilajacket]

I have spoken to Corky and he stated that he resigned due to changes in his work schedule that would not allow him to continue to coach. From this explanation, I would assume that his resignation had little to do with unhappy parents or school personnel.

[trojan4life]

Roman is exactly what Johnstown needs. For someone to say that he is not a coach that does not discipline players is blasphemy. It takes at least two years, at the very minimum, to earn the respect and trust of his players. Roman is a coach that WILL lead his players in the right direction both on and off the court. He is very solid in the area of getting players deserved attention. Furthermore, he is a man of integrity that constantly puts his players first regardless of his own ambitions as a coach. At Johnstown you are extremely fortunate to have one of the brightest coaches in Western PA.

If you feel that Johnstown under achieved this year I think that you are kidding yourself. After seeing quite a few of Johnstown games this year it was clear that they did not have the "basketball players" to do a sufficient amount of damage in the state tourny. I think that people tend to forget that having good athletes does not translate to having good basketball players.

There is no doubt that Roman is a good high school basketball coach. He has proven that with his record at Westmont. The thing is Johnstown approaches basketball like Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, and Ucla of the world. We have won over 21 district titles in basketball so the level of expectancy is high. Every year we don’t win a conference title and a district 6 championship is a failure. Even if we win them both but not in convincing manor it is sometimes considered a failure.

I believe Johnstown is the hardest place to coach for 2 reasons. You don’t hear too much about the parents complaining, but I will tell you if they do, and if they new the steps to get rid of coaches and get things done, believe me you Johnstown would probably be worse than Westmont. Instead the parents just try to fight you after the game. I believe every coach that has ever coached at Johnstown has been threatened one time or another, and it's only a matter of time before Roman has a run in with a parent. 2nd the pressure to win is really high. Much higher than any other school around this area.

The positive you have at Johnstown is natural talent. They happen to be the biggest school in the LHAC, and every year they have enough to win the conference. Johnstown will never be happy until a state title is hanging, and even then we will find a way to complain. It is what it is at Johnstown. You got to love it or leave it. I'm not saying its right but its reality