After 14 seasons that included 11 conference championships and 11 trips to the state tournament, Tom Lonergan has stepped down as head coach at Central Bucks East to accept the same position at Gwynedd Mercy Academy.
By Mary Jane Souder
Tom Lonergan has been synonymous with Central Bucks East basketball for the past 14 years. During that time, he created an unparalleled tradition of excellence, winning 11 conference titles and making 11 state tournament appearances.
On Monday, it was announced that Lonergan has stepped down from his post at East and accepted the recently vacated coaching job at Gwynedd-Mercy Academy. He replaces Tim Kowalski, who resigned for personal reasons at the close of an 11-13 season.
On Monday evening, Lonergan met with his new team.
“I felt so positive when I walked into that school today,” he said. “They were so enthusiastic. You could see the excitement, and they expressed an excitement.
“I told them at the meeting – I will work harder than any coach you ever will play for, and if you’re willing to work with me, the stars are the limit.’”
Lonergan has spent his career encouraging his players to reach for the stars, and more often than not, they’ve reached their potential under the veteran coach.
During his 14 years at East, Lonergan’s teams compiled a 305-93 record (.766). He is the winningest coach in the history of the Central Bucks School District, and his teams have won SOL contests at a 90 percent clip.
Prior to taking over the helm of the East program, Lonergan was the head coach at Bishop McDevitt for 15 years, and during that time, his teams won four Philadelphia Catholic League titles.
Lonergan boasts an overall record of 570-217, and he will be in some elite company in the Catholic Academies League as one of three coaches with more than 500 wins, joining Villa Maria Academy’s Kathy McCartney and Mount St. Joseph’s John Miller.
Coming as no surprise, Lonergan has set lofty goals for his new squad.
“There’s not a banner in the gym that says (Catholic) Academies League champ, and that’s the first thing we’re going to take care of,” he said. “The second thing is we’re going to win a district title, and obviously, the final one is a state banner.
“Right now the immediate goal is the Catholic Academies. I told them I’m not used to second best.”
Lonergan is not only returning to his Catholic roots at Gwynedd, he also will be reuniting with a longtime member of his basketball family. Gwynedd athletic director Teri Fasano as well as her husband Matt were assistants under Lonergan when he coached at McDevitt.
“She really is a totally committed athletic director,” Lonergan said of Fasano. “I couldn’t tell you over the last two weeks how many phone calls went back and forth. I met with her in person and wanted to make sure everything was ironed out.
“I already gave her a list of things that needs to be done, and she was jumping right on it. I’m totally excited, and my whole family is excited. It’s always been a family affair with my two boys and (wife) Kathy. They have always been very involved.”
Lonergan will begin open workouts in late April or early May while East will be looking for someone to fill the shoes of a coach whose legacy will be difficult to follow.
“It’s very, very hard replacing a Tom Lonergan,” East athletic director John Reading said. “I have nothing but the best things to say about his coaching career at East.
“It was a great run, and we will definitely miss him.”
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