The St. Vincent athletic department is pleased to announce the hiring of interim coach Jimmy Petruska as head women's basketball coach.

Petruska, 29, has been with the Bearcat program since 2006, and served as interim head coach during the second half of this past season following the unexpected passing of Kristen Zawacki on Dec. 25. Zawacki had been the program's only head coach in its 28-year history.

Athletic director Fr. Myron Kirsch, O.S.B., said, “Jimmy has done a great job as an assistant, and did a top-notch job as interim head coach filling in after Kristen's loss. He was someone that Kristen asked for as an assistant. She had faith and trust in him, and we believe he'll carry on her tradition of success here at St. Vincent.”

“It's an honor to take over the St. Vincent women's basketball team and follow a legend in Coach Zawacki,” said Petruska. “I look forward to coaching the returning players and the new recruits.”

Petruska began his coaching career in 2002, serving as assistant coach for the girls' basketball team at Mars High School, a team coached by his mother, Dana Petruska. After three seasons at Mars, he spent the 2005 season as an assistant at Pine-Richland High School, before coming back to St. Vincent in 2006. In 2010-11, the team earned its first-ever berth in the Division III NCAA Tournament and finished with a record of 24-5.

A native of Mars, Pa., and graduate of Mars High School, Petruska graduated from St. Vincent in 2004 with a degree in history and minor in secondary education.  He is currently pursuing a masters in curriculum and instruction at St. Vincent.