California University of Pennsylvania Athletics

Rich “Tree” Kotarsky’s dominant play in the paint helped the Vulcan men’s basketball team win its first PSAC-West title.

A three-year starting post-player, Kotarsky was a four-year letter-winner from 1963-64 through 1966-1967.

He finished his collegiate career with 1,067 points — the fourth highest total in school history at the time. (He now ranks 27th)  Kotarsky joins teammate Pat Hobart as Hall of Fame inductees from the basketball team’s first PSAC-West championship squad.

“Islands are only in oceans and lakes but when you get placed on one with such a great honor like this you have to remember how you got here,” Kotarsky said. “It’s not really an island when you think of the many people that supported you along the way and even years later in being selected. This has happened because of my family, friends, teachers, coaches and teammates.”

During his senior year Kotarsky led the Vulcans and Cal U Hall of Fame coach Myles Witchey to the program’s first of now 15 PSAC-West titles. He scored 30 or more points during three different games in 1966-1967, including 31 points in the division championship-clinching win over Slippery Rock.

That year the Vulcans competed in their first PSAC “State Game” and were defeated by perennial power Cheyney. Cal has now made 14 appearances in the championship game, with eight crowns.

“We just had a coach and group of players that were willing to commit and work together after just missing going to the NAIA national tournament the year before,” he said. “Winning the division and playing for the state championship was a very big stepping stone and the program just built from there.”

Kotarsky suffered an injury early in the state finals.

“I don’t think it would have mattered because Cheyney was that good,” said Kotarsky. “We just ran into a buzz saw in Cheyney which happens. It is what it is.”

The Vulcans improved each year during the Kotarsky era. Cal went 9-10 his freshman season and 12-11 in 1964-65. The team achieved consecutive 16-win seasons over his final two years in the program.

Kotarsky credited Witchey from building a stagnant program into an annual contender.

“Myles was a tough character, we practiced everyday and they weren’t easy,” he said. “But Myles was with us every step of the way and you believed him when you looked him straight in the eye. He was intense and successful in life and coaching. He gave me passion for the game that I have carried with me the rest of my life.”

After his senior season Kotarsky received NAIA All-American honors, as well as Associated Press All-State and first-team PSAC-West recognition. In addition to playing basketball, Kotarsky was an active member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity, the Young Democrats Club and the International Relations Club during his undergraduate days.

Witchey said Kotarsky deserved every accolade that came his way.

“Richard came from a coal mining family and worked extremely hard throughout his career to get better,” said Witchey. “Every year he improved and went on to do quite well with his education. California needs to be proud of him.”

He earned his bachelor’s degree in social studies and master’s degree in special education from Cal in 1967 and 1971, respectively. Kotarsky earned certification in special education from Duquesne in 1974 and special education supervision from Slippery Rock in 1980.

Kotarsky went on to a 36-year teaching career at several hospitals and school districts before he retired from Keystone Oaks High School in 2003.

While at Cal he held a student job sweeping rooms after practice and would also pump gas. Kotarsky said his Cal U education and experience paved his professional path.

“I would finish sweeping those rooms and go outside and look at Old Main,” said Kotarsky. “Seeing those towers just sort of hit you why you were here and what this place was doing for you.   Cal gave me a base of education that was outstanding for teaching. Classes were small, people cared about you and worked with you to get you through.”

Throughout his teaching career, Kotarsky was a longtime basketball official at all levels from high school to NCAA Division I. He officiated PIAA state finals games and numerous collegiate conference and regional tournaments before retiring in 2010. He still umpires college softball.

Occasionally Kotarsky officiated basketball games involving the Vulcans but remaining impartial was never a problem.

“As a former player and coach you have a better understanding of what teams sacrifice during a season and I always remembered that when I got into officiating,” Kotarsky said. “While feelings are obviously there for Cal you look across the court at the five players and coach from say Edinboro or Clarion and know their commitment and struggle to win is just as deep.  I’m not saying I always made the correct call but it never crossed my mind to not do it right.”

Active in all phases of officiating, Kotarsky is in his second season as coordinator of men’s basketball officials for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Association. He also is the western assigner for the Collegiate Softball Umpires Association, rules and mechanics interpreter for the Collegiate Officials Association, and the PIAA District 7 (WPIAL) softball interpreter.

Kotarsky still runs three summer basketball officials camps and serves on the Cal U basketball team’s Sixth Man Club Golf Committee.

Originally from Marianna, Pa., Kotarsky is a 1963 graduate of Beth Center High School.

He was unable to play sports until his sophomore year because of Bright’s disease, a kidney ailment, but he went on to play scholastic football and basketball.

As a reserve, Kotarsky scored 91 points his junior year, when the Bulldogs went 12-11 overall. He averaged more than 16 points per game his senior year, with 341 total points. That year Beth-Center compiled a 15-6 overall record and was Section 10 runner-ups.

Kotarsky and his wife of 32 years, Mary, reside in Mount Lebanon, Pa. Their daughter, Kara, is a successful businesswoman who is also a graduate student in school counseling at Marymount University.

updated 10/26/11