New Mt. Pleasant boys coach Mark Katarski working to revive program at alma mater

By: Paul Schofield
Thursday, November 27, 2025 | 4:01 PM

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Mark Katarski has now completed a circle.

The 1995 Mt. Pleasant grad who has earned more than 200 combined victories at the college, high school and middle school levels is back at his alma mater trying to revive a program that hit rock bottom in 2024-25, going 0-22.

He replaces Anne Malkowiak, who compiled an 8-35 record in her two seasons.

Katarski, 48, was a graduate of Cal (Pa.) in 2000. He coached middle school at Clairton and Derry. He was head women’s coach at Chatham and Seton Hill, an assistant coach at Niagara and Pitt-Greensburg and interim head boys coach for eight games at Hempfield during the district’s investigation of Bill Swan last season.

Katarski was 147-120 at Seton Hill, the winningest coach in school history, and 55-102 at Chatham.

When he took over at Chatham, the school had won only 11 games.

He played for Joe Dunn, currently the coach at Charleroi. During his senior season, he played on a section runner-up and a playoff qualifier.

Charleroi and Mt. Pleasant are in the same section, and Mt. Pleasant has planned a celebration of Dunn’s section champion teams (1990 and 1991) when the teams meet.

Katarski, who was hired in June by a vote of 8-0, has been evaluating the players returning.

“I am still learning names,” Katarski said. “I really do not know much yet.

“I have two seniors and two juniors back. The rest are sophomores and freshmen.”

The seniors back are guards Gage Vallone and Jordan Grief. The juniors are guards Cole Massari and Kade Hutchinson.

He has high expectations for his squad. He is encouraged what he sees from the sophomore and freshman classes.

“We have a lot of work to do,” Katarski said. “But the players are working hard. It has been fun watching them grow.

“All the starting jobs are open. The goal is to improve yourself every day at practice.”

Katarski said he wants to see the program start to ascend.

He knows the section will be tough, starting with reigning section champion Southmoreland, but the plan is to find the right combination to compete every game.

Other teams in the section include Brownsville, Ligonier Valley and Waynesburg.

The nonsection schedule features games against Yough, Geibel, Environmental Charter, Armstrong, Carrick, Connellsville and Leechburg.

Mt. Pleasant Area boys at a glance

Coach: Mark Katarski

Last year’s record: 0-22 (0-10 Section 4-3A)

Returning starters: Gage Vallone (Sr., G), Jordan Grief (Sr., G), Cole Massari (Jr., G), Kade Hutchinson (Jr., G).

SCHEDULE

11.28, at Yough, 7:30 p.m.

12.4, at Environmental Charter, 6 p.m.

12.6, Armstrong, noon

12.8 Yough, 7 p.m.

12.11, Carrick, 5:30 p.m.

12.13, Leechburg, noon

12.19, at Ligonier Valley*, 7 p.m.

12.20, Derry^, noon

12.23, Brownsville*, 7 p.m.

12.29, Greensburg Salem+, 5 p.m.

12.30, Connellsville+, 3:30 p.m.

1.3, at Serra Catholic, 1:30 p.m.

1.6, at Charleroi*, 7:30 p.m.

1.9, Southmoreland*, 7 p.m.

1.13, at Waynesburg*, 7:30 p.m.

1.15, Apollo-Ridge, 7 p.m.

1.20, at Geibel Catholic, 7 p.m.

1.23, Ligonier Valley*, 7 p.m.

1.27, at Brownsville*, 7 p.m.

1.30, Charleroi*, 7 p.m.

2.3, at Southmoreland*, 7:30 p.m.

2.6, Waynesburg*, 7 p.m.

*Section game

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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: Mt. Pleasant