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RADNOR, Pa. – Former Men’s Basketball Head Coach and Director of Athletics John Dzik will be inducted into the Cabrini College Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, September 24 in Nerney Field House at the Dixon Center. Dzik will be honored as the sole member of the Cabrini Athletic Hall of Fame’s fifth class and he is the 23rd person enshrined.
Dzik led the Cabrini men’s basketball program for 25 seasons from 1980-2005, guiding the Cavaliers to 16 conference championships and 11 appearances in national tournaments. In his final season with the Blue & White in 2004-05, Cabrini listed second all-time among winningest NCAA Division III programs.
At the beginning of the 2009-10 regular season, Dzik ranked 34th among winningest NCAA Division III head coaches all-time. He posted a 483-216 (.690) career record at Cabrini.
“I am delighted to be welcomed into the Cabrini College Athletic Hall of Fame,” Dzik said. “I share this honor with the many fine student-athletes and coaches that I was blessed to work with during my tenure at Cabrini. Most of my career was spent as a coach or administrator at Cabrini. I have developed many wonderful friendships and possess many lasting memories of Cabrini Athletics. I look forward to revisiting both at the Hall of Fame ceremony.”
Dzik made an immediate impact when he assumed the head coaching responsibilities at Cabrini from Dr. Jolyon Girard for the 1980-81 season. He guided the Cavaliers to three consecutive Keystone Athletic Conference titles from 1981-83.
Under Dzik’s tutelage, Cabrini made four straight appearances in the NAIA Tournament from 1983-87. During that four-year stretch, the Cavaliers captured four NAIA District 19 championships and three Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference titles.
Dzik helped usher Cabrini into full-time membership with the NCAA and Eastern States Athletic Conference (ESAC), beginning with the 1987-88 campaign. In five seasons, he aided the Cavaliers to four ESAC Tournament appearances, ultimately hoisting the hardware in 1988.
Beginning with the 1992-93 academic year, Cabrini joined nine other private, four-year colleges in Eastern Pennsylvania in forming the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC). Dzik played an integral role in coordinating the formation of the new conference and also served as its first President (1992-94). All told, Dzik coached the Cavaliers to eight PAC titles, including a run of six straight from 1992-98.
Cabrini advanced to nine NCAA Tournaments with Dzik as head coach. The Cavaliers reached the second round of the national tournament in consecutive seasons from 1994-96. Cabrini marched all the way to the “Sweet 16” round in 2001-02.
During his time at Cabrini, Dzik coached the Cavaliers to fourteen 20-win seasons and an extraordinary 24 appearances in the postseason in his 25 years at the helm of the program. He mentored Cabrini to a then-school record 24 victories in a single season three times.
Dzik was twice named the NAIA District 19 Coach of the Year and also earned the PAC Coach of the Year distinction four times. He was inducted into the Philadelphia Area Small College Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.
In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Dzik also served as Director of Men’s Athletics (1980-86) and as Director of Athletics (1986-03). He was the College’s Director of Admissions (1983-86) and Special Assistant to the President for Athletic Advancement (2003-04).
“The name John Dzik is synonymous with Cabrini Athletics,” Director of Athletics and Recreation Joe Giunta said. “Coach Dzik has paved his way into the Cabrini Athletic Hall of Fame with 25 years of excellence in athletic administration, coaching and mentoring of student-athletes. The history behind the Cabrini athletic department, the achievements of the men’s basketball program under his leadership and all of the accomplishments of the countless student-athletes that Coach Dzik has supported and influenced over the years is his legacy.”
The fifth class of the Cabrini Athletic Hall of Fame will be inducted on Friday, September 24 at 6 p.m. in Nerney Field House at the Dixon Center.
Tickets for the Hall of Fame Ceremony can be purchased for $55. Click here to register online.