Championship coach Mark Stanley of Union hangs up whistle

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, April 17, 2025 | 8:23 PM

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Following two decades on the sidelines at two Lawrence County schools, one of the most successful coaches in WPIAL boys basketball is hanging up his whistle for good.

Union coach Mark Stanley had decided to step away from coaching after finishing his 11th season in his second stint as court general of the Scotties.

“This is a retirement,” Stanley said. “I can’t see me going back, because like I told so many people, I am getting older, not younger.

“It was just time for me to go. I loved the games and getting to compete, but it was harder getting to go to the gym to prepare for the games.”

Stanley was hired by Union to take over at his alma mater in 1999. He also coached the Scotties from 1999-2006.

Stanley was hired at New Castle to take over for championship-winning coach John Sarandrea.

He coached the Red Hurricanes for three years before going back to Union, opening the door for Ralph Blundo to take over at New Castle.

“Mark is Union, period,” Blundo said. “He is a staple in that community and has been a source of pride for Union going back to his playing days, where he was good at every sport he played. From his playing days to his time as a Union basketball coach, he was an outstanding player, coach and person.”

When he graduated from Union in 1984, Stanley was the school’s all-time leading scorer in basketball with 1,586 points.

He is fourth on the school’s all-time scoring list behind two of his sons. Matthew is No. 1 with 1,803 points and Lucas is No. 2 at 1,645 points.

Third on the list is Don Nogay with 1,592 while right behind Stanley at No. 5 is current Scotties girls basketball coach and Union principal Rob Nogay at 1,549.

For his career, Stanley finished with a coaching record of 300-226.

In his 18 years at Union, he was 83-101 in his first stint and 186-89 his second time around. In his short time at New Castle, he was 31-37.

With his fourth and final son about to graduate high school this year, Stanley started thinking hard about his future as coach in the summer of 2024.

“During last summer workouts, it was crossing my mind and I was thinking I can’t do this next summer,” Stanley said. “I knew at the end of the season I was probably done, but I wanted to give it a couple of weeks to make sure.

“It was not easy, but I know it is right.”

Stanley led the Scotties to the playoffs in all 11 years since he returned to the program, and they qualified for the PIAA postseason in seven of the last eight years.

In the fifth season of his first stint at Union, the Scotties finished the regular season at 12-10 and were the No. 12 seed in the 2003 Class A playoffs. They stunned St. Joseph, Monaca, California and Clairton to win the program’s first and only WPIAL championship.

Union came close several times in the last 10 years, losing in the district finals in 2018 to Vincentian Academy, in 2022 to Bishop Canevin, in 2023 to Imani Christian and this winter in the 2A title game to Jeannette.

However, in his mind, it’s not all the wins, title games and championship that he will remember the most.

“I’m most proud of the relationships I formed with my players, the people I worked for and with and the friendships I made with other coaches along the way,” Stanley said.

One thing Stanley said he wishes he could change was his relationship with officials.

“I respect the hell out of all the officials that ref the games,” Stanley said. “I never, ever blamed the officials for a loss. I just wish sometimes I wasn’t so tough on them during games.”

Perhaps Stanley is being too hard on his treatment of officials.

One longtime WPIAL official who has worked his share of games in Lawrence County said he always enjoyed officiating games coached by Stanley.

“He chirped like any other coach, but he always listened to explanations and moved on” John Yerage said. “When he did challenge an official, his challenge was legit.”

Yerage mentioned some of Stanley’s coaching mentors were Albert Chapman, George Abraham and Jerry Slocum.

Now that he has hung up the basketball whistle, the only coaching he’s doing is for the Union middle school baseball team with his oldest son Anthony.

He was asked how much he will miss strolling the sidelines come next season.

“I am sure I will miss it a lot,” Stanley said. “During playoff time, I am sure I will be out of my mind.”

Tags: Union