Leechburg 1st-year coach Rich Marshall preaching effort, teamwork

By: Greg Macafee
Monday, November 24, 2025 | 4:14 PM

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Leechburg’s new girls basketball coach, Rich Marshall, has seen a lot of basketball throughout his coaching career.

From college to high school to youth leagues, Marshall has 25 years of head coaching experience. He’s been an assistant at the Division I level with Arizona State and Clemson, helped resurrect the girls program at Penn State New Kensington and also spent time at Florida Southern and Thiel, among other stops.

At the high school level, he coached at Ellwood City during the 2016-17 season and most recently at Lordstown High School in Ohio.

So, as he prepares to take over the Blue Devils program this season — he’ll be the third head coach in three years — Marshall guaranteed his team will do two things.

“Regardless of our success level in wins and losses and other ways people measure success, we ask our girls to do two things,” Marshall said. “What can we expect from Leechburg girls basketball this year? Two things. The girls will play hard with 100% effort, and they’ll play together, as a team, as a unit of five. That’s really what we’re after.”

Marshall takes over a program that was slim in numbers a year ago and mustered two wins, which came in back-to-back games against Western Beaver and Eden Christian. He was hired in June, and over the past three and a half months, has held sessions twice a week with players who could attend.

Over that time, Marshall has worked with every one of his 11 players — which he expects to grow to 16 next season — at least once, and has built an understanding of what it will take to turn things around. To put it simply, it starts with changing the culture.

“How do you go about that? It’s just the attitude,” Marshall said. “Here’s a big one. Your ability level dictates your potential and what you’re capable of doing. You see this at all levels, scholastically and professionally. What does your attitude dictate? Your attitude dictates your performance, regardless of how talented you are. With a good and positive mindset and attitude, you’re going to outperform an opponent with the same skill or perhaps a better skillset with a negative attitude.

“Again, it’s just changing the culture. How they act, react and interact with each other. Then just trying to develop the confidence level in the participants we have. Then, basically, give them the experience and teach them. That’s a huge one.”

Heading into this season, Marshall will have three returning seniors in Abby Shea, Hayven Lookabaugh and Addie Zanotto, who was the team’s leading scorer and an all-section selection last season.

All three will play important roles. Marshall will look to them for leadership.

“We’re looking for positive leadership from all three of our seniors,” Marshall said. “With such a young team, it’s important for us to receive positive leadership from all three seniors. So those three are key.”

Marshall will also return sophomore forward Jaida Skwirut. Newcomers to the program include Kialeah Cole, a sophomore guard who moved back to Leechburg, along with freshmen Brooke Cuffia and Eastyn Clark.

With such a young team and a determination to build up the program and help players gain game experience, the Blue Devils have also scheduled six JV games where they will play two quarters. They are hoping to build out that schedule more, as well.

Leechburg girls at a glance

Coach: Rich Marshall

Last year’s record: 2-17 (2-12 Section 1-1A)

Returning starters: Abby Shea (Sr., G), Addie Zanotto (Sr., G), Hayven Lookabaugh (Sr., G)

Others to watch: Jaida Skwirut (So., F)

Top newcomers: Kialeah Cole (So., G), Brooke Cuffia (Fr., G), Eastyn Clark (Fr., F)

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

11.28, Valley^, 6 p.m.

11.29, TBD^, 5 p.m.

12.1, at Jeannette, 6 p.m.

12.3, at Northgate, 6 p.m.

12.4, Highlands, 6:30 p.m.

12.9, at East Allegheny, 6:30 p.m.

12.11, Springdale*, 6:30 p.m.

12.15, at St. Joseph*, 7 p.m.

12.18, Western Beaver*, 6:30 p.m.

12.22, Eden Christian*, 6:30 p.m.

12.30, at West Shamokin, 6 p.m.

1.5, at Aquinas Academy*, 7:30 p.m.

1.8, Union*, 6:30 p.m.

1.12, at Sewickley Academy*, 7 p.m.

1.15, at Springdale*, 7 p.m.

1.19, St. Joseph*, 6:30 p.m.

1.22, at Western Beaver*, 6 p.m.

1.26, Eden Christian*, 6 p.m.

1.29, Aquinas Academy*, 6:30 p.m.

1.31, Ellis School, noon

2.2, at Union*, 5:30 p.m.

2.5, Sewickley Academy*, 6:30 p.m.

*Section game

^At Leechburg tip-off tournament

Greg Macafee is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Greg by email at gmacafee@triblive.com or via Twitter .

Tags: Leechburg