SELINSGROVE, PA - Susquehanna University head women’s basketball coach Mark Hribar has resigned after 15 seasons with the Crusaders, director of athletics Don Harnum announced Wednesday.
Hribar (left), who turns 48 on April 5, compiled a 237-139 record (.630) at Susquehanna and was the winningest coach - men’s or women’s - in school history.
He guided the Crusaders to 13 consecutive winning seasons from 1988-89 through 2000-01, 11 trips to the Middle Atlantic Conference playoffs and four NCAA Division III playoff berths during his 15 seasons on the Susquehanna sidelines.
“It’s been a great run, and we’ve had some great players come through the program in 15 years,” said Hribar. “I am thankful for the opportunity afforded to me over the years by Susquehanna, but I just don’t have as much energy to do things as they need to be done.”
After serving as the boys’ basketball coach at East Juniata High School from 1982 to 1987, Hribar became head coach at Susquehanna in the fall of 1987 and posted a 10-13 record in his initial season of 1987-88. That would be his last losing record until the 2001-02 season, when the Crusaders finished 9-15.
In 1989-90, Hribar’s squad went 16-10 and tied for the MAC Northwest League title, setting up a run of success over the next three seasons that featured three straight league titles and two MAC Northern Division championships (1990-91 and 1991-92) as well as three NCAA Division III tournament appearances.
He was named MAC Northern Division Coach of the Year in both 1990-91 and 1991-92 as the Crusaders went 23-5 and 21-6, respectively, in those two seasons.
In 1994-95, Hribar led the Crusaders to a 20-7 record and the Middle Atlantic Conference championship game, while his 1998-99 squad finished 17-10 and earned a fourth NCAA tournament bid for Hribar behind the play of senior forward and Jostens Trophy winner Kristen Venne, who averaged 21.4 points per game that season.
Hribar is a 1976 graduate of Mansfield University with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education, and is an English teacher at East Juniata High School.
