St. Joseph boys get offseason overhaul with new coach, roster turnover

By: Michael Love
Friday, November 28, 2025 | 10:11 AM

Chris Muir didn’t waste any time getting immersed in the St. Joseph boys basketball program when he was hired as the new coach in late September.

He also made sure to get his youthful Spartans players on the court and playing together.

Open gyms and competition against Class 5A Laurel Highlands and McKeesport in recent weeks helped Muir assess the talent on the roster that features no seniors.

“I wanted to get them playing together as much as possible,” said Muir, a graduate of Lakeview High School in Warren, Ohio, who went on to play at Point Park.

“Those were good experiences playing against those bigger schools. I’ve seen some solid glimpses of what this team can be. From the first time we got together, it was night and day with the intensity, the focus, the defensive presence and begin able to execute a lot of our plays. They are extremely hungry and very hard workers. They all want to be taught and coached well.”

A former athletic director at Hillcrest Christian Academy in Bethel Park, Muir spent last season as an assistant on Steve Scorpion’s staff at Woodland Hills.

“Being around that staff last year was a great experience for me,” Muir said. “Steve’s been to a WPIAL title game and has coached some really good teams. Being able to pick his brain was a blessing every single day. Those (Woodland Hills players) were a good, hard-working group. It helped me get ready for this opportunity.

“I want to bring that attitude to this group where we’re battling every day to where we will be ready to bring that in games.”

Muir will be looking for size in the lineup as center Ben Bartolovic, the Spartans’ leading rebounder last year at 11.5 per game, graduated. He was one of eight seniors who departed. The roster features four juniors, seven sophomores and nine freshmen.

But leading scorer Ryan McCarthy, a 6-foot junior guard, is back to lead the offense after averaging 12.7 points a year ago. He represented the Spartans as a Valley News Dispatch honorable-mention all-star.

Junior guard John Marino and sophomore guard Kyle Lecker are hoping to make bigger impacts this year after earning varsity minutes last season.

The rest of the rotation, Muir said, will consist of youth getting their first taste of varsity basketball.

That group includes freshman guard Nick Tometsko, freshman guard/forward Julian Jiggetts and sophomores Vinnie Zampogna and Chase Porter.

St. Joseph will be looking to get back in the playoff picture after placing fifth in Section 2 last year behind Neighborhood Academy, Serra Catholic, Geibel Catholic and Monessen. The Spartans’ two section wins (2-8) came against Environmental Charter.

Neighborhood Academy is loaded again as it hopes to make another run at WPIAL and PIAA championships. Serra Catholic finished as the WPIAL runner-up.

“Neighborhood is obviously a powerhouse,” Muir said. “They have a lot of guys coming back in. They are always going to be loaded and rebuilding. Serra Catholic lost a lot of guys, but they are always going to be a tough team to beat. Honestly, I think we can compete with anybody in the section. We hope to play pretty fast and get up and down. It will come down to playing solid defense and being disciplined.”

The Spartans open the season at home Tuesday against Leechburg before hosting a tipoff tournament that will include Steel Valley, Highlands and Southmoreland.

“It is a challenging start, but we wouldn’t want it any other way,” Muir said. “Come section season time, we will be ready.”

St. Joseph boys at a glance

Coach: Chris Muir (first year)

Last year’s record: 7-15 (2-8 in Section 2-A)

Returning starters: Ryan McCarthy (Jr., G)

Others to watch: John Marino (Jr., G), Kyle Lecker (So., G)

Top newcomers: Nick Tometsko (Fr., G), Julian Jiggetts (Fr., G/F), Vinnie Zampogna (So.) and Chase Porter (So.)

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

12.2, Leechburg, 7:30 p.m.

12.5, TBD^, TBD

12.6, TBD^, TBD

12.8, at Springdale, 7:30 p.m.

12.9, at Propel Braddock Hills, 7 p.m.

12.16, Summit Academy, 7:30 p.m.

12.17, Apollo-Ridge, 7:30 p.m.

12.19, at Environmental Charter*, 6 p.m.

12.23, Geibel Catholic*, 7:30 p.m.

12.29, TBD+, TBD

12.30, TBD+, TBD

1.6, at Serra Catholic*, 7 p.m.

1.9, at Monessen*, 7 p.m.

1.13, Neighborhood Academy*, 7:30 p.m.

1.16, at Aquinas Academy, 7:30 p.m.

1.23, Environmental Charter*, 7:30 p.m.

1.27, at Geibel Catholic*, 6 p.m.

1.28, Trinity Christian, 7:30 p.m.

1.30, Serra Catholic*, 7:30 p.m.

2.3, Monessen*, 7:30 p.m.

2.6, at Neighborhood Academy*, 6 p.m.

2.10, Ambridge, 7:30 p.m.

*Section game

^St. Joseph tip-off tournament

+St. Joseph holiday tournament

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: St. Joseph