Belle Vernon’s Joe Salvino could write storybook ending to coaching career

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 | 11:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

In a back hallway, just off the court Saturday at AHN Arena in Peters Township, Joe Salvino looked up at a scrum of reporters who wanted his reaction to a riveting one-point semifinal win.

The Belle Vernon boys basketball coach was jovial and made the group chuckle with a couple of his answers. But then he became emotional as he realized what had just happened and what came next.

“I can’t believe it,” Salvino said, tearing up behind his glasses and pausing slightly to regroup. “It’s my last year, and we’re going to the championship game. Those kids deserve all the credit in the world.”

Top-seeded Belle Vernon (20-4) edged past No. 4 Avonworth, 57-56, to reach the WPIAL finals for the third time in program history. The Leopards will meet No. 2 North Catholic (19-5) for the Class 4A title at 9 p.m. Thursday at Pitt’s Petersen Events Center.

Salvino, 73, will partake in the WPIAL finals for the 12th time in his career — a career that will end when Belle Vernon’s season does. The legendary leader — second all-time in the WPIAL in boys basketball wins (743-312) — told the Leopards he is retiring after this season.

“It means a lot (to make the finals),” said Salvino, in his seventh season at Belle Vernon after 34 at Monessen, where he won 639 games, six WPIAL titles and two PIAA championships. “You think about all the effort they have put in. It shows how much they care about winning a championship and how much they care about me.”

Belle Vernon assistant coach Ricky Tyburski has been beside Salvino since the pair left Monessen. Tyburski won two WPIAL titles as a player and three as coach with the Greyhounds.

He and Salvino are chasing their first at Belle Vernon, which has one championship, in 1978.

“It’s been a long journey with coach,” Tyburski said. “It would be great to win one for him one last time.”

Scorekeeper John Kukrak has been helping Salvino for 30 years.

“The last (championship) was in 2017,” Kukrak said. “We beat Imani Christian. We’ve been doing this a long time.”

Belle Vernon senior point guard Trevor Kovatch said winning for Salvino is the driving force behind this playoff run.

“He told us captains early in the season this would be his last year,” Kovatch said. “We kept it quiet. He deserves to go out as a winner. It takes a team, and we want to do it for him. It would mean everything to him.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Belle Vernon