TERRY THOMPSON Coach Terry Thompson's experience and enthusiasm are all too familiar to area basketball fans. Most recently, Coach Thompson served for seven seasons as an assistant with the Edinboro University men's team. Edinboro won back-to-back PSAC Championships and made numerous trips to the NCAA playoffs. Coach Thompson began his coaching career in 1965 as head boy's coach at East Brady High School. He led the team to the PIAA state runner-up spot in 1968. He then became head boy's coach for nine seasons at Knoch High and two seasons at Butler High and was a highly regarded coach in the Pittsburgh area before finding his way to the Erie County League. He guided the Fairview Tigers boys' team for seven seasons. During the 1985-86 season, he led the tigers to an undefeated ECL and District 10 championship. Fairview had a 124-56 record during his tenure and numerous district and state playoff appearances. In 1990, he made the jump to the college ranks, working for three seasons as men's assistant at Penn State Behrend. Coach Thompson returned to the high school level in 1992, taking an assistant girl's position at Girard High School during both his daughters' playing careers. In nine seasons he helped lead Girard to a PIAA State championship, a PIAA state runner-up, five District 10 titles and three ECL titles. Coach then served four seasons as a women's assistant coach at Edinboro University during his daughter Courtney's playing career. Before joining the men's team at Edinboro, coach returned to the high school level as head coach of the Girard boys' team and led the Yellow Jackets back to the district 10 playoffs in both seasons.

BOB AMENDOLA Coach Bob Amendola has won three District 10 Boys Basketball Championships. In 1999, as head coach, his Mercyhurst Prep boys team won the school's first boys District title. In one of the more memorable scholastic upsets, they defeated George Junior Republic, the defending state champion. At the time, George Junior was #1 in the state and was riding a two-year undefeated winning streak. In 1985 he also won the district title at Fairview High School serving in his second season as a six-year assistant to head coach Terry Thompson. Most recently he won the 2012 District Title again with Mercyhurst Prep, serving as an assistant and mentor to his former player head coach Sean Baer. As the Boys Varsity assistant at Fairview from 1984-1993 he helped lead the Tigers to a District Championship and undefeated Erie County League Championship in 1985 with coach Thompson. In all, the tigers qualified for the district 10 playoffs in seven out of eight seasons coach Amendola was involved, including two state playoff appearances. In 1995 he served as a men's assistant coach for the Gannon Golden Knights. In 1997-1999 he became a head coach for the first time and rebuilt a struggling 2-20 Mercyhurst Prep boys’ program into the 1999 District 10 Champions and qualified for the district 10 and PIAA state playoffs in both seasons. In 2004-2006 he reunited as a varsity assistant boys coach with head coach Terry Thompson at Girard High school and helped lead the Yellow Jackets to the District 10 playoffs in both seasons. In 2012 he returned to Mercyhurst Prep as an assistant coach and mentor to former player and head coach Sean Baer. He helped lead Mercyhurst Prep boys to a section championship, another District l0 title, and a trip to the PIAA state playoffs.

KRAIG HETZ

Kraig Hetz has enjoyed a very successful coaching career over the past 32 years both at the high school and collegiate levels. Most recently, he served as an assistant coach at Gannon University from 2012-2019. During those seven years, the Knights enjoyed 5 20+ win seasons, won the PSAC conference and played in 3 NCAA tournaments. As a head coach at five different high schools prior to coming to Gannon, Hetz produced a .647 winning percentage while compiling a 376-205 career record.

The Fairview, Pa., native served as the head coach at McDowell (Pa.) High School from 2006-12 prior to coming to Gannon. The Trojans went 102-46 and advanced to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) State Playoffs three times during his tenure. McDowell’s best season under Hetz resulted in a 26-3 record in 2007-08. The Trojans had a district championship, region title and PIAA Western semifinal appearance with Hetz at the helm.

Hetz previously served as the head coach at Altoona (2000-06), Hollidaysburg (1996-00), United (1991-96) and Oswayo Valley (1988-91). His teams combined to win five district championships, five league titles and one region championship. Hetz has guided teams to the PIAA state playoffs 12 times. He has been to the PIAA Western Finals with Altoona and PIAA Western Semifinals with both McDowell and Hollidaysburg. Hetz helped set school records for victories in a season at Oswayo Valley (17-7 in 1990-91), United (23-4 in 1992-93) and Hollidaysburg (23-3 in 1999-00).

Hetz was a three-year letter winner at Thiel where is also served as a team captain during his collegiate playing days. He graduated from Thiel in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in Social Studies, before obtaining his master’s degree in secondary school counseling at Indiana (Pa.). Hetz and his wife, Jennifer, live in Erie with their three children, Tyler (19), Jordyn (18) and Jessica (15). Hetz is currently a Social Studies teacher at McDowell High School.

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