![[Toolbar]](/pix/ribbon.gif){kind=small}
xx307@po.cwru.edu -- About this server -- Copyright 1994-2001 CWRU -- Unauthorized use prohibited
Posted 10-16-00
CLEVELAND -- Mike Marcinko, a two-year assistant coach with the men's basketball team, will serve as interim coach at Case Western Reserve University for the 2000-01 season.
Marcinko will become only the second men's basketball coach in CWRU's history. He succeeds the legendary coach Bill Sudeck, who passed away in August after a long battle with cancer. A search for a full-time replacement will begin this spring.
Following in Sudeck's footsteps will be "extremely hard reputation-wise. How could you not love the guy?" Marcinko said.
"As far as visibility and the historical perspective, you can't fill his shoes, and it would be weak to try," Marcinko added. "You do your own thing and work hard, and good things happen. I can't do everything he did, so what has worked for me in the past will be done at lot here, and we'll tweak it to what works and doesn't work at Case."
"I am pleased to have a person with Mike's experience with our players, knowledge of basketball, and self-motivation to lead our basketball team," said David Hutter, director of physical education and athletics. "Mike's experience as a head coach and rapport with the players will be assists as he assumes leadership of the team from the well-respected Bill Sudeck."
Marcinko, 37, spent the past two seasons as an assistant under Sudeck. His duties have included recruiting, scouting, and focusing on the Spartan offense.
Prior to CWRU, Marcinko was head varsity basketball coach at local Orange High School, a Division II Ohio high school, from 1994-98. His teams at Orange won two sectional titles and made one district championship appearance.
Before that he was the head men's varsity basketball coach at nearby Hiram College, a Division III NCAA institution, from 1991-94. Marcinko took Hiram from a last-place team to a contender in the Ohio Athletic Conference for three seasons. He also was an assistant men's soccer coach while at Hiram.
Marcinko's first experience as a collegiate coach came at Heidelberg College, a Division III NCAA institution, where he was an assistant varsity basketball coach from 1987-91.
The Heidelberg basketball team appeared in the top 20 nationally each season while Marcinko was there. He also was the head women's soccer coach and assistant track and field coach during his time at Heidelberg.
Marcinko received his B.A. in business/education from Bluffton College in 1985 and his M.A. in education/counseling from Heidelberg College in 1991. He is a guidance counselor at the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center, where he has worked since 1998.
The Spartans finished 11-12 overall last season and 7-8 in the University Athletic Association, taking fourth place in the nine-team conference. Two years ago the squad finished 17-9, a record matched only during the 1984-85 season.
"I've always thought we could be very competitive," said Marcinko. "Obviously, you want to end the year with more wins than losses. I would really like to make a positive statement in the association, a top-half finish or better. I think that is an obtainable goal if we can stay healthy."
The 2000-01 basketball season begins November 17 when the team travels to Michigan to participate in the very tough Albion College Tournament.