Pieroway resigns as men’s basketball head coach

By Daniel Gaona

It came as a shock to the Pima Community College men’s basketball team when head coach Karl Pieroway resigned from his position.

The second-year coach was unavailable for comment regarding his resignation.

According to an April 20 PCC press release, Pieroway talked about the stress of coaching basketball and also being a full-time math teacher in a letter to Edgar Soto, the executive director of athletics. He gave that as the main reason for his departure.

“I could not be more proud of the players and coaches who have worked so hard to achieve so much over a short period of time,” Pieroway said in his letter to Soto.

After going 10-20 in his first year at Pima, Pieroway this year led the Aztecs to a 20-16 season and their first trip to nationals, where Pima placed seventh.

Soto said that Pieroway will be missed but Pima is thankful at the same time that he put the program where it is now.

“Coach Pieroway took the college’s men’s basketball program to a new level of success,” he said in the press release.

Travares Peterson, one of Pieroway’s star players, was stunned about his resignation.

“It came as a shock, I’m not going to lie,” Peterson said. “Especially after a year we had like last year. I don’t really know the reason or anything. Until everyone figures out what’s going on, we can’t really comment on it much.”

Peterson, a sophomore, enjoyed playing under Pieroway for two seasons.

“He was a good coach, a cool coach,” he said. “He was a good guy and I just wish him the best.”

There is no word on who will take over as head coach but an immediate search is under way, according to the press release.

Keep checking AztecPressOnline.com for updates.