When Athletic Director Mike O’Brien first hired Zach Skrinjar in 2009 to lead the Fox Chapel Area boys basketball program, he admits it was a bit of a gamble. Coach Skrinjar had not been a head coach before, although he was an assistant under former coach Ben O’Connor, and was still a little rough around the edges, as all young coaches tend to be. Nonetheless, Mr. O’Brien realized the assistant’s potential, and now, in his 13th year leading the program, the coach just earned a milestone 200th career victory. His collective record stands at 200-95 after the Foxes’ February 1 victory over Hempfield Area. The coach’s current senior players have been a part of 74 of those wins.
Under coach Skrinjar’s direction, the program has been dominant in WPIAL Class 6A for the past six seasons. Each of those years, including this one, the coach led his teams to the WPIAL playoffs. And, while the regular section season is still underway, the coaches and team have their sights set on a fourth section title.
For the coach, it’s never been about personal accolades. He says, “For me, it has just always been about the team and our program and building it into a successful one. Winning 200 is a product of so many peoples’ hard work and effort, starting with my assistant coaches and the players. Without their tireless work and energy, none of this would be possible.
“This is not solely about me winning my 200th game. It’s about creating a sustained program and how the kids have embraced the challenge to be better than the class before them. We have been fortunate to have such skilled players and great kids.”
Kevin Shields was the statistician and public address announcer for Central Catholic High School when coach Skrinjar was a basketball player there. Now on the Foxes staff for three years, Shields offers his perspective after years of knowing the coach. “To win 200 games at the highest level of competition in nearly the completion of 13 years is a phenomenal accomplishment, especially when he had had no previous head coaching experience. He’s a wonderful mentor to the young men at Fox Chapel Area, not only teaching them the game of basketball, but more importantly, about life itself.”
Joe Farrell has served as an assistant to coach Skrinjar throughout his 13 years at the helm. He probably knows him better than anyone except his brother Gabe, another of his assistants who doubles as a statistician, and is the one from the close-knit Skrinjar family who spends the most time with him.
“What I admire most about Zach’s coaching is the hard work that he puts into scouting and game planning, and the honesty he has with all of the kids,” coach Farrell says. “He is a student of the game and is always changing his coaching style to fit the personnel of the team.”
While his aggressive defenses are legendary, coach Skrinjar also has mentored three of the school’s nine 1,000+ point scorers, including the all-time top-two – Matt D’Amico, the current leader, followed by current senior Eli Yofan. Eli is knocking at the door and has an opportunity to break the record this season.
With experience comes wisdom, and coach Skrinjar says he is a far different head coach now than when he began. “I have always tried to improve. I take a lot of notes and always look back at previous years to see what worked or didn’t work. I also have turned a little more control over to the players in games; I’m not ‘coaching’ every possession. But something that hasn’t changed is the way we as a staff and team prepare for opponents. We have always prided ourselves in scouting. We may lose a few games, but we won’t ever be out-prepared. I have always thought that it is one of a coach’s most important jobs.
“The best part of coaching for me is that every Tuesday and Friday night, I can watch my favorite team play the game I love, and I have the best seat in the house,” reflects coach Skrinjar, who is grateful for all of the support and memories he has been able to share with his family, his assistants who have been extremely loyal to him, the program, the community, and Mike O’Brien, the one who took a chance on him years ago.
“I hope my proudest accomplishment is still out there, but I am very honored to have coached all the great young men who have played for us throughout my career.”
