Keeping Cavaliers ahead of the PAC

by Allison Webb staff writer

His love of the game, skill on the green and positive, eager attitude toward his job is what keeps John Dzik on his feet, handling three important responsibilities at once. Dzik is the athletic director, basketball coach and assistant golf coach for Cabrini College. He loves what he does and has loved it since he was young.

Dzik has very good help that makes his job as an athletic director "a little easier." Leslie Danehy, associate athletic director, and Karen Pelkey, administrative assistant, both assist Dzik in the Dixon Center.

As Cabrini's basketball coach, Dzik has two assistants, Joe Kelly and Mike Keeley, that have been assisting him for 20 years. Rob Rowe coaches junior varsity and has done so for 11 years. Dzik stepped down as head coach for the golf team and let Dr. Tony Verde take over. He now assists the team.

Dzik started coaching when he was 16-years-old at a summer recreational camp. Through high school he played golf, baseball, football, basketball and soccer.

"When I realized I wasn't a very good player I became a coach,"

Dzik said while remembering his high school days. While in high school he met his wife. They have one son who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania.

During basketball season, Dzik's average work day is 10 to 12 hours. From Sept. 1 to Oct. 15 he is a full-time athletic director.

From Oct. 15 to the end of Feb. he is the athletic director and head coach for basketball. This is a very "hectic" time for him. After February, he starts coaching golf and working in his office. He works fewer hours and can listen to his "soft jazz" at his desk. There are highs and lows for Dzik, juggling three jobs. Some highs are he is very proud of his teams and he loves to see alumni come back to visit after they graduate. Some lows are when someone is unable to play due to injury or someone is lost to death. "I don't have a job and I feel sorry for people that don't like their job." His job is what he wants to wake up to each day. He enjoys all aspects of his career.

Dzik came up with the idea of the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference, the PAC, out of necessity. Cabrini was originally in the ESAC but the teams were too diverse and the financial support needed wasn't there. "I was looking for something economically feasible for Cabrini." It took one and a half years of talking and conferences to get the PAC started. It is Dzik's greatest achievement. To Dzik the PAC is "competitive but comfortable."