ST. CLAIR — When first tapped to coach the St. Clair High School girls basketball team, Darren Pietrykowski didn’t know what to expect.
Having raised three boys, he’d never coached girls before. In fact, Pietrykowski wasn’t sure that he could.
Looking back, however, one couldn’t imagine a better fit.
“(My players) probably taught me more than I taught them,” Pietrykowski said. “I learned quite a bit from them. The things that they taught me made me a better coach, a better father, a better person.”
The St. Clair native, who graduated from the high school in 1991, resigned as coach of the Saints after seven seasons earlier this week.
“With my work and family situation, I don’t know if I have enough time and energy left to take (this program) to the next step,” Pietrykowski told the Times Herald. “So, I don’t think it’s fair to the girls, or the program (to remain as coach). There’s somebody (out there) that can give them a little more than I can give at this point in my life.”
St. Clair went 92-53 over his tenure, which included two MAC Gold championships (2023, 2026). Following a 6-13 finish in 2019-20, the Saints never had another losing season under Pietrykowski’s watch. They also won at least 15 games in each of the past four years.
“My first year (as coach), it was hard to get six or seven girls that wanted to come out (for the team),” Pietrykowski said. “Now, our numbers are there (to have full varsity and junior varsity teams). That’s a credit to our entire staff — just to make it fun and make the experience good and the culture that I believe we built as a whole program. That’s probably the one (accomplishment) I’m most proud of.”
St. Clair made strides on the court, too, especially this past season, as it finished 19-4. Those 19 wins were the most for the Saints since 2006 when they went 25-3 and reached the MHSAA Class B state championship game.
“I’m excited of where the program is going,” Pietrykowski said. “I know it’s in good hands — a lot of the coaches that coached with me are staying. The talent is there and I know they’ll compete for many years to come. Even though I’m retiring, I’ll still be around the sidelines, watching and rooting our squad on.”
Starting next week, St. Clair will begin accepting applications for a new girls basketball coach. Those interested should visit the human resources page on the East China School District website (www.eastchinaschools.org/page/humanresources). Then, click on the tab labeled “East China School District Positions.”
Contact Brenden Welper at bwelper@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @BrendenWelper.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Darren Pietrykowski steps down as St. Clair girls basketball coach
Reporting by Brenden Welper, Port Huron Times Herald / Port Huron Times Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
