Gene Brisbane resigns as Derry girls basketball coach

By: Paul Schofield
Tuesday, September 17, 2024 | 9:06 PM

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Gene Brisbane is someone who does not mince words.

The veteran girls basketball coach who worked the sidelines the last five years at Derry resigned on Tuesday and he was up front with the players about why.

“There is no commitment from the girls at Derry,” Brisbane said. “It was a struggle to get players out. The roster averaged around 11.

“I told the team if there would be more of a commitment, I would not leave. To have a successful program, you must work in the offseason either on your own or as a team.”

Brisbane was 38-61 at Derry. The Trojans went 14-9 and reached the WPIAL playoffs during his first season in 2019.

Brisbane previously was head coach at Hempfield and Westmoreland County Community College.

Even though is resigning from Derry, it doesn’t mean he’s done coaching. He may help Paul Sapotichne on Greensburg Salem’s boys basketball staff, and he plans to continue to be an assistant track coach at Derry.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Derry Area