New Valley boys coach excited to begin rebuilding process

By: Antonio Rossetti
Saturday, November 29, 2025 | 12:37 PM

New Valley boys basketball coach Eric Kostick sat down for his second interview with the Tribune-Review in early November, 22 years after his first one, when he was just 7 years old.

In 2003, the young Kostick was featured talking about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead of their Super Bowl matchup against the Oakland Raiders.

“My old man grew up in the ‘70s,” Kostick said. “He was an adamant Raiders fan, and he’s the one reason I love sports. He told me growing up you can like any team you want to like, but you will not like the Pittsburgh Steelers. I was about 6 years old. I ended up landing on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and, lo and behold, the next year, they played each other in the Super Bowl.”

It was a house divided. His father, Shawn, watched the game from home, while Eric watched at his grandma’s house, a family rivalry in Steelers country.

“We were probably the only fans of Oakland and Tampa Bay in the tri-state area,” Kostick recalled with a laugh. “Eric Felack, a friend of mine, came and did an interview with us, put us in the paper and just spotlighted us being a family with a Super Bowl rivalry going on and none of it involved Pittsburgh. … It was a really cool article.”

A lot has changed in the 22 years since. Kostick graduated from Slippery Rock, worked in Florida and returned to Western Pa. He was an assistant coach at North Allegheny in 2023-24, and, whenever he found out the Valley position opened this season, he was first in line.

“I jumped all over it,” Kostick said. “I was on top of the team. I took them through our spring league. We were in a summer league. We were in a fall league, which is something else that hadn’t happened at Valley for years with the carousel of coaches they had.

“It all just kind of fell in place for me. When I left North Allegheny to come to Valley, a couple people called me crazy, but I knew where I wanted to be. That’s how I ended up back at home, and I’m so happy to be here.”

At just 30 years old, the 2013 Valley grad is able to connect with the players. He played video games growing up. He walked the same streets and hallways. He said he wants to show them the love they have not always received in the past.

“Valley and New Ken in general is a place where you’ve really got to be from here to get it to really relate to these kids, and I just love them as much as I can,” he said. “We break it down every day, ‘Valley on three, family on six.’ I tell the guys, I love them, and I think that has helped tenfold.”

He said that the team’s improvement is off the charts.

Kostick entered the Vikings in the PBC summer league, and they finished 4-2, making the semifinals.

“Even though it was a summer league, that’s success that these kids haven’t seen for a while, and I cannot wait to get that back and get them excited to play again,” Kostick said.

With Mickael Allen graduating, Taireke Davis transferring to Imani Christian and Owen Rankin sidelined with a torn ACL, the Vikings will have opportunities for several player to step up.

Sophomore point guard Dawson Wall is one of the players in that position.

“It’s very evident that our offense runs through him when he’s on,” Kostick said. “When he’s making shots, when the ball is flowing through him, good things happen. He’s our catalyst on offense.”

His older brother, guard/forward senior Jaden Wall, returns.

“He’s going to be a captain for us,” Kostick said. “They’re very young. He might end up being the only senior we have on this team. I’m going to look for him to kind of lead by example. He was a football captain as well. I’m looking for him to be my leader on the court.”

Freshman Kane Wilson is a player Kostick expects to make an immediate impact.

“Kane just has natural talent and ability and basketball IQ,” Kostick said. “He does things naturally that I haven’t even had a chance to teach him yet, whether that’s just ripping and going to the hoop, taking kids one-on-one or bringing a level of physicality that this team needs.”

Tayshaun Hawkins, a starter last year, tore his ACL during the offseason but is expected to be back sometime in December.

“That kid can score the ball in multiple ways,” he said. “He can shoot 3s. He can take it to the rim. He’s about 6-foot-2 and has a natural feel for the game, so getting him back and ready for the season would be huge.”

Kostick said the team is filled with athletes who are becoming complete basketball players. He is emphasizing a tough and physical defense.

“We are going to win games by playing hard defense, using our athletes in space and making sure we turn that into offense,” he said. “As long as they buy in and keep giving 110% on playing defense the right way, I think these kids, the possibilities are endless. …We’ll have the depth to press people all game.”

Kostick’s formula is simple: effort and toughness.

“I want us to be a team that’s tough, gritty, gets to the hoop, draws fouls and makes our money at the line,” he said. “If you hold teams to between 40 and 50 points, you’ll have a chance to win every single game.”

Kostick sees the benefits of having a young team.

“We’re going to grow together,” he said. “I tell these kids all the time, I cannot expect you guys to come into practice every day and improve without doing the same. On my end, I go home every day, whether it’s from practice or games, and just look to better myself. And, once again, the kids are showing me that, too.”

Kostick is motivated to bring winning basketball to Valley. The Vikings had five wins last season, but he believes there will be more in the future with a motivated group.

“By the time this sophomore group is seniors, I think we’re going to be very competitive and a team that can make a run,” he said. “I’ve got freshmen and sophomores right now who can play. I know I’ve got some eighth graders coming up who are going to be really good. If they stick with it, really buy into what I have going on here, the sky’s the limit for them.”

Valley boys at a glance

Coach: Eric Kostick

Last year’s record: 5-17 (0-12)

Returning starters: Tayshaun Hawkins (Sr., SF), Dawson Wall (So., PG)

Top newcomers: Kane Wilson (Fr.)

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

11.28, Summit Academy^, 4:30 p.m.

11.29, TBD^, TBD

12.2 at Greensburg Salem, 7:15 p.m.

12.5, at Apollo-Ridge, 6 p.m.

12.9, Perry, 6:40 p.m.

12.12, at Knoch*, 7:30 p.m.

12.15, at Deer Lakes*, 7 p.m.

12.18, North Catholic*, 6:40 p.m.

12.23, at Freeport*, 7 p.m.

12.29, TBD+, TBD

12.30, TBD+, TBD

1.7, Carrick, 6:40 p.m.

1.9, Burrell*, 6:40 p.m.

1.12, at West Shamokin, 7 p.m.

1.13, at Highlands*, 7 p.m.

1.16, Knoch*, 7 p.m.

1.20, Deer Lakes*, 6:40 p.m.

1.23, at North Catholic*, 7 p.m.

1.27, Freeport*, 6:40 p.m.

2.3, at Burrell*, 7 p.m.

2.6, Highlands*, 6:40 p.m.

2.9, at Armstrong, 7:30 p.m.

*Section game

^At Leechburg tip-off tournament

+At Ambridge holiday tournament

Tags: Valley