UPDATE: USC Hockey Coach Fired After Winning State Championship

Larry Marks compiled a record of 47-14-6 in his three seasons as head coach of the Upper St. Clair varsity hockey team, quickly amassing the third-highest win total in the program's history.

The Panthers also made three straight appearances in the Penguins Cup semi-finals under Marks, and won the PIHL Class AAA Penguins Cup championship and the Pennsylvania Cup this past season.

But as of Tuesday evening, he is no longer the Panthers' head coach after the Upper St. Clair Hockey Association voted not to renew his contract and replace him with varsity assistant coach Gary Klapkowski, who also served as the junior varsity head coach.

"I'm in shock, I really am," Marks said. "I was really looking forward to coming back (next season), being with the kids again and seeing what we could do with the upcoming year. But unfortunately, the board didn't see it that way." 

Marks said he first learned the news of his ouster late last night from former team business manager Joni Selep, mother of senior forward Justin Selep.

Marks was hired with a three-year contract by the USCHA in 2008, chosen over Yuri Krivokhija, currently the head coach at Canon-McMillan High School, whom the Panthers beat, 4-3, in overtime of the Penguins Cup title game at CONSOL Energy Center on March 20.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Marks said he has yet to be told why he was not retained.

"My contract was over, I knew that," Marks said. "But why they didn't renew it, I have no idea. After we won the states and everything, I would never guess that in a million years."

An email was sent to Dr. Patrick O'Toole, Upper St. Clair school district's superindendent, who responded, "The district does not have any input into the coaching decisions of the club sports."

Since hockey is a club sport, the coaching decisions are voted upon by the board members of the Upper St. Clair Hockey Association (USCHA).

The school district has seen its share of similar situations with coaches in the past, notably when the 2002 school board had to decide whether to keep two-time WPIAL champion boys' basketball coach Danny Holzer and WPIAL and state champion football coach Jim Render. But Marks says this is something he has never experienced before personally.

"I'm sure I've seen it over the years, but I can't recall how many times I've actually seen it," he said. "But I don't think I've ever seen this situation happen before."

The USCHA Board has asked the new head varsity coach, Gary Klapkowski, to not take any questions from the media. Patch has tried to contact Steve Gielarowski, president of the USCHA. He has not yet responded to the requests for comment.

Marks said he has received a number of supportive phone calls and text messages from current and former players, as well as many others both inside and outside of the Upper St. Clair hockey organization.

Meanwhile, most of the players on the team have strongly supported Marks since the announcement, some with emotional remarks on Twitter, others posting individual photos with Marks on their Facebook pages.

Several players have also contacted Upper St. Clair Patch, volunteering to comment on the situation.

"It's out of their hands, and I appreciate all of the support they've given me in the past and they're giving me now," Marks said when asked what he would tell his players if given the chance to properly address them.

"I would tell them also to go out and do your best when you play, no matter who coaches you," he said. "Play for your school, play for your community, play for yourself. Go out and be the best you can be, and prove to yourself and prove to everybody else that you guys are great individuals and great players, which they are.

"It's a part of life. It's a part of what you go through, whether it's your job, whether it's hockey, it doesn't matter. It's all a part of life and you just learn from it."