HOMECOMING - Robert Morris University

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A Winning Tradition"Banaszak's Bunch" can get their old bannersout of the attic. The big defensive lineman fromthe Super Steelers of the '70s has been namedcoach-in-waiting of the <strong>Robert</strong> <strong>Morris</strong> Colonials.John Banaszak, now assistant head coach,will succeed head coach Joe Walton afterthe 2013 season."I understand very clearly that Coach Walton is still my boss," Banaszaksaid at a January news conference. "But our relationship goes muchdeeper than that. He's a friend and a mentor. What he's accomplished inbuilding this program is immeasurable, and I hope to continue thetradition of success that he created here."Banaszak got his first of three championship rings with the Steelers hisrookie season as a special teams player. The Eastern Michigan grad wenton to earn two more as the team's starting defensive end. His highlightperformance was Super Bowl XIII, a thrilling rematch against the DallasCowboys in which Banaszak sacked Roger Staubach twice andrecovered a fumble, earning the honor of Defensive Player of the Game.Before coming to RMU in 2003, Banaszak was head coach at Washingtonand Jefferson College, leading the Division III team to a 38-9 record.The Presidents' Athletic Conference, made up of mostly small westernPennsylvania colleges, named Banaszak Coach of the Year each of hisfour seasons at Washington and Jefferson.With the Colonials, Banaszak hasorchestrated great defenses year after year.The team has earned the NortheastConference's top ranking in yards allowed fourtimes in his nine seasons, most recently in 2010,when the Colonials claimed the NEC'sinaugural berth in the Football ChampionshipSubdivision playoffs. Eight defensive linemenunder Banaszak's tutelage have garnered All-NEC recognition, includingNolan Nearhoof, who led the Colonials with seven-and-a-half sacks lastyear and can break the team's career sack record his senior season withfour more.JOHN BANASZAKHEAD COACH IN 2014Walton, who started RMU's football program in 1994, signed atwo-year contract extension last fall that will give him 20 seasons withthe team. He said the Colonials will be in good hands whenBanaszak succeeds him. "He's a good football coach, and he's a goodleader," Walton said. "I'm very confident that the success our programhas had in the past will continue with him as head coachin the future."PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BYTHE PITTSBURGH STEELERS & RMU ATHLETICSA WINNING TRADITIONWALTON, BANASZAK & THE COLONIALS8 • R M U . E D U / F O U N D AT I O N S R O B E R T M O R R I S U N I V E R S I T Y F O U N D AT I O N S • 9
THEBIGGAMESPRING SPORTS PREVIEWSTARS TO WATCHWe pick some of the biggames this season. And wegive you the inside skinny.So while you’re cheering forthe Colonials, you also canshow off your sports smartsto your friends and familyin the stands. Make anafternoon of it!BASKETBALLMEN'S NECQUARTERFINALSTHURS., MARCH 1WOMEN'S NECQUARTERFINALSSAT., MARCH 3HOCKEYWOMEN'SCHA TOURNAMENTFRI., MARCH 2-3MEN'S AHAQUARTERFINALSFRI., MARCH 9-11BASKETBALLBoth the men's and women's teams cracked theCollege Insider Mid-Major Top 25 this season,boosting the growing national reputation of RMUbasketball. The Big Dance beckons, but first theColonials will have to take care of business in theNEC championships.THE BIG GAMES: MENNEC QUARTERFINALS: MARCH 1SEMIFINALS: MARCH 4FINAL: MARCH 7THE BIG GAMES: WOMENNEC QUARTERFINALS: MARCH 3SEMIFINALS: MARCH 6FINAL: MARCH 11> LIJAH THOMPSONMEN’S HOCKEYNext year RMU hosts the NCAA Frozen Fourhere in Pittsburgh. This year the Colonials canfocus on just getting in the tournament.Almost 5,000 cheering fans watched theColonials take No. 4 Ohio State to the wirein December at the Consol Energy Center,a highlight in another big season. Now theColonials are vying to host an Atlantic Hockeyquarterfinal on their Neville Island ice, with thewinner heading to Rochester, N.Y., to play forthe conference title and NCAA bid.THE BIG GAMES:MARCH 9-11MEN'S AHA QUARTERFINALSWOMEN’S HOCKEYAs an assistant coach, Paul Colontino helped Mercyhurst qualifyfor the NCAA tournament each of his five years there, including two Frozen Fours.Now that he's taken the reins at RMU, can he take the Colonials past the Lakers? Newassistant coach and Team USA goalie Bri McLaughlin, whose banner hangs in theClearview Arena, figures to play an inspirational role too.> COURTNEY LANGSTON#35 BROOKS OSTERGARDThe goalie was namedAHA Goaltender of theMonth in December afterposting a .955 savepercentage for the month.Backstopping RMU to aneight-game unbeatenstreak, the team's longestever, Ostergard notched a32-save shutout of RITand stopped 47 shots in awin over Niagara.#14 MARY DUROJAYEThe British reboundspecialist led the NEC inoffensive boards throughthe first half of theseason. Durojaye also isthe team's most accurateshooter, and her .521 fieldgoal percentage atmidyear was third in theconference.LACROSSEMEN VS. CANISIUSTUES., MARCH 27, 7 P.M.WOMEN VS. QUINNIPIACSAT., APR. 7, 11 A.M.1 0SOFTBALLDOUBLEHEADERVS. CENT. CONN. ST.SUN., APRIL 29,NOON> CHECK RMUCOLONIALS.COM FOR THE LATEST ON GAME TIMES, VENUES, AND SCORES.SUPPORTYOUR SPORT!MAKE A CHARITABLE GIFTTO THE ATHLETICS PROGRAMOF YOUR CHOICE ANDBE A COLONIAL BOOSTER.RMU.EDU/GIVEMEN'S LACROSSEThe super-octane Colonials offense has led the NCAA in scoringfor two years running – a feat last achieved by Virginia 15years ago. The team also knocked off its first nationallyrankedopponent last year when it beat Bucknell. Newcoach Andrew McMinn, the former offensive coordinator,will have to figure out how to adjust schemes for playerslike star midfielder and NEC Scholar-Athlete of the YearKiel Matisz now that the three leading scorers havemoved on.THE BIG GAME: MARCH 27VS. CANISIUSCome watch the Colonials play under the lights.The team takes on Canisius for the first-ever nightlacrosse game at Joe Walton Stadium.> MATISZTHE BIG GAMES: MARCH 2-3WOMEN'S CHA TOURNAMENTRMU CLEARVIEW ARENAWOMEN’SLACROSSETHE BIG GAME:APRIL 7 VS. QUINNIPIACSix straight wins at theend of last season earned theColonials their first postseasontournament. Can they returnunder NEC Coach of theYear Katy Philips? This matchagainst the defending champsshould give us a clue.SOFTBALLAs defending regular seasonchamps, the Colonials will relyon the strong bat of Allie Pattonand speedy arm of Alexa Bryson,seniors who earned All-NEC andAll-Tournament honors.THE BIG DOUBLEHEADER:APRIL 29 VS.CENT. CONN. ST.RACHEL KOTULAKotula won her collegiatedebut last year with a45.77-meter throw thatwas long enough toimmediately qualifyfor the IC4A/ECACChampionships inPrinceton. At that event,the freshman placed thirdand earned All-EastCoast honorswithhersecond-bestthrow of theseason, at45.74 meters.> KOTULA
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HOMECOMING - Robert Morris University

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