Chad Lojewski took the Wyoming Area girls basketball program from perennial loser to steady contender.
It will be up to someone else to try to take the Lady Warriors through the next step.
Lojewski resigned Friday after eight seasons leading the Wyoming Area program.
“I have a growing financial advisement practice and the ability to work remotely and spend some time in warmer climates in the winter months,” said Lojewski, who informed school officials and the Lady Warriors team of his decision after determining that he would be out of the area at times during the season.
Lojewski said it was difficult to step away.
“I love the program; love the school district,” Lojewski said. “Administration athletic director … everybody was so supportive. I made tons of new friends there and I will certainly continue those friendships.”
The Lady Warriors were a last-place team half the time and won fewer than 20 percent of their games in the eight seasons prior to Lojewski’s arrival.
In eight seasons with Lojewski leading the program, Wyoming Area posted five winning records and a .500 season, going 60-54 in the Wyoming Valley Conference and 92-89 overall. After his first season, they had just one losing record in the last seven.
“I feel good about where I’m leaving it,” Lojewski said. “I don’t feel good about leaving, but I feel good about the position it’s in.”
During those eight seasons, the Lady Warriors pulled off a playoff upset, put together an 11-game winning streak and had a 10-3 conference season, but fell short of reaching the top of the standings or the state playoffs.
“A lot of blood, sweat and tears,” Lojewski said. “We didn’t get a banner put up on the wall like I would have hoped.
“I’m hoping that I left it in a better spot than what it was when I came in and maybe it’s a bridge to that next plateau.”
Girls basketball at Wyoming Area has grown in the past eight seasons, not just on the varsity level.
“The most pride I took in growing the program was being able to help a lot of different personalities within the school district from third grade all the way through 12th grade get in and learn to play a little basketball, but also getting to know them and their parents,” he said. “It was a great experience.
“I know that they’re going to be looking at a lot of wonderful success. They’ve got a great group of talent coming back from the younger grades all the way up through the upperclassmen.”
Lojewski hopes parts of the program will remain intact.
“They’ve got a fantastic coaching staff there that obviously I helped put together,” he said. “I certainly hope they’re considered.”
