Wiktorowski Resigns As Wawasee Coach
SYRACUSE — Wawasee boys head basketball coach Steve Wiktorowski has announced his resignation. The coach, who completed his third season at the helm for the Warriors earlier this month, informed his players of his decision Monday night at the team’s award night.
Wiktorowski has doubled up his duties the past three years as both head basketball coach and athletic director. He will now return his focus to being just AD, starting his sixth year in that position this coming fall.
“I believe at this point in my professional career that is in the best interest of myself and all those who are part of our sports programs if I no longer try to serve the dual roles of a head coach and the director of athletics,” Wiktorowski stated in a release Tuesday morning.
“Being AD is clearly the main role I came here to serve in, and it should go back to being my main focus considering the size of our school and some specific department needs I want to address.”
Wawasee was Wiktorowski’s third stop as a high school head coach, serving as the head coach for both Fairfield and Prairie Heights for a stint of seven years at each school. Wiktorowski came to Wawasee as the AD after serving nine seasons as the head women’s basketball coach at Goshen College.
Wiktorowski took over as Wawasee’s head coach in 2013. He led the team to its first winning season since 2010 with a 13-12 record in the 2014-15 season and a trip to the sectional championship game.
“I cannot thank the board of education and our administration enough for the trust and opportunity they afforded me to attempt to head the two positions,” said Wiktorowski. “During the last three years our program tried to develop a playing style based on maximum effort that emphasized team defense and a diverse offense. I feel that we have good, young talent returning that gained invaluable experience during a difficult season that will lead to future positive results.
“I feel we have made advances in our feeder system that will strengthen us. I believe these are the foundations that will hopefully attract quality applicants who can build on this base to create a consistently winning program. We especially had an incredibly loyal student fan base who I am so proud of and thank for supporting their fellow students through both good and frustrating times.
“It is my greatest hope that the student-athletes and their fellow supporters who were in any manner a part of this program under my direction will look back at this time as an overall positive experience from which they take many life lessons and good memories that will serve them for years to come.
“I urge our returning players to continue the effort you gave me and know I will work my best as AD to support you and the continuing program to reach new heights of success.”
The AD also mentioned in the release that the search for a new coach will begin soon with “the clear goal of hiring a new coach before the end of the spring trimester.”
Wiktorowski finishes his coaching career at Wawasee with a 19-50 record. In 17 years of coaching high school basketball Wiktorowski accumulated 142 wins. At Goshen College the coach won 93 games and led the 2003-04 team to the national tournament behind a then school-record 26 victories. That record was broken this season following a 27-win campaign for the Leafs.