Back to where it all began: Joe Zeglinski (left), pictured here with brothers Zack (center) and Sam, has been named the new boys basketball coach at Archbishop Ryan. Joe Zeglinski, a 2006 Ryan grad, is the basketball program’s all-time leading scorer. TIMES FILE PHOTO
Archbishop Ryan has replaced one alum with another of its own.
Joe Zeglinski has been hired as the school’s next boys head basketball coach, the school announced in a press release on Thursday. Zeglinski, the program’s all-time leading scorer and a 2006 graduate of Ryan, replaces Bernie Rogers, who stepped down last month after 15 seasons to take the same position at the Haverford School. Rogers graduated from Ryan in 1992 and won 212 games in his 15 seasons.
As many expected, Ryan stayed in-house to select its next head coach. Over the years, the school has hired former student-athlete standouts to come back and coach, from Frank McArdle (football) to Ryan Haney (girls soccer) to Mike Bradby (boys soccer). Zeglinski becomes the next in line and will attempt to revive a program that has won just six Catholic League games the last two seasons, although the Raiders were a playoff team in Rogers’ final campaign.
“We are thrilled to welcome Joe Zeglinski back home to Archbishop Ryan,” principal Jim Meredith said in the press release. “While there were many qualified candidates for this position, Joe’s basketball acument, ability to develop and lead student athletes, experience at the Division I level, deep Ryan roots and impeccable character make him the ideal choice to succeed Coach Bernie Rogers and build on his success. We are grateful to Coach Rogers for all he accomplished but are fortunate to land a coach of Joe’s talent and character.”
With 1,253 career points, Zeglinski is the all-time leading scorer in program history. He played for four years under Rogers and was an All-Catholic First Team selection three times. Zeglinski was also a football standout at the school, and his number is retired in both sports.
After high school, Zeglinski attended the University of Hartford on a full athletic scholarship. At Hartford, Zeglinski was a four-year starter and selected to the America East All-Conference team in each year. He is the program’s second leading scorer in career points with 2,016. A sharpshooter, Zeglinski ranks 15th all-time in NCAA history in three-pointers made.
After college, Zeglinski played professionally in Denmark before returning to the United States. He most recently completed a season as an assistant basketball coach at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Connecticut.
Zeglinski comes from a sports family, as he and his brothers, Zack and Sam, excelled on the hardwood for Our Lady of Calvary growing up. Zack and Sam were multi-sport athletes at Penn Charter, and the latter starred at the University of Virginia and has played professionally in Europe and Canada. Christina Zeglinski, the brothers’ younger sister, graduated from Ryan and played softball for the Ragdolls.
