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By Michael Boytim
mboytim@altoonamirror.com
Penn Cambria boys basketball coach Jim "Scooter" Ronan was named the 2022-2023 PIAA/NFHS Boys Basketball Coach of the Year Friday morning.
Ronan led the Panthers to the District 6 Class 3A championship and the PIAA semifinals, the longest playoff run in school history.
"It's super humbling, and I'm honored," Ronan said. "You don't go into coaching to get recognized, but when it happens, it's something really special. At the end of the day, I'll never forget this moment and the past couple years that we have had as a team and our community to get to this point."
Ronan was named the Altoona Mirror Coach of the Year, and his star senior, Garrett Harrold, was the Mirror Player of the Year. Harrold went on to earn first-team all-state honors.
"Going into these last couple years, there was a word we focused on a lot, legacy," Ronan said. "From the players to the coaches, we wanted to leave the best legacy that no one will ever forget at Penn Cambria. When the day comes that I retire, I can walk through that gym one more time and know I was part of something that may not ever be achieved again and take great pride in being the leader of the group that did that."
Penn Cambria came up just short of the PIAA title game with a 61-56 loss to Deer Lakes in the semifinals but had already made history at that point, including a major upset victory in the District 6 final over Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic.
"I truly think that BG was probably the best team in our side of the state bracket after going through the state playoffs," Ronan said. "To beat them was a remarkable feat. I just thought they were super talented and after seeing all the teams, they by far had the best variety and skill set of kids. It's become a good rivalry, and that made it more special.
"Nobody believed we were going to win that game. It starts with our parents and how they raised their kids, it truly does. We believed because of the mindset from the parents and how we practice and play the game. We tried to be tougher, and we knew we could find a way to win."
Ronan, who also is the head coach of the baseball team at Penn Cambria, has been the boys basketball coach at the school for 15 seasons, and he also won district titles in 2012 and 2022.
Ronan credited his players, coaches, administrators and family for the success.
"No one is more deserving and has been more dedicated to the student athletes of Penn Cambria than Scoot," Penn Cambria superintendent and District 6 chairman Bill Marshall said.