SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Slippery Rock University alumnus Joe Lewandowski was named USA Basketball's 3x3 Coach of the Year, the national governing body for the sport of basketball in the United States announced recently.
 
A 1999 Slippery Rock graduate with a degree in secondary education, Lewandowski was one of two coaches honored by USA Basketball with 3x3 Coach of the Year recognition alongside women's coach Jennifer Rizzotti.
 
Lewandowski led Team USA in qualifying for the 2024 Olympics in Paris after serving as the 2023 3x3 Men's National Team head coach during the FIBA World Cup and the Pan American Games as well as the leader of Team Miami during the FIBA 3x3 Men's World Tour.
 
"Joe has been a longtime coach in our 3x3 programs and Jen has been involved with our junior national teams, women's national team and now 3x3," said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball CEO. "Both led tremendous teams at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup, on the 3x3 pro circuits and at the Pan American Games. Their leadership and involvement in 3x3 are a testament to their dedication to USA Basketball players and programs."
 
Lewandowski has been associated with USA Basketball's 3x3 program since 2012. Over the last decade he has worked 17 separate coaching assignments in international competition for both the men's and women's programs, resulting in a combined six gold and silver medals. 
 
Most recently, the Lewandowski led roster of Jimmer Fredette, Canyon Barry, Kareem Maddox and Dylan Travis earned gold medal honors at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.
 
Prior to embarking on his coaching journey, Lewandowski was a standout athlete who began his collegiate playing career at Butler County Community College where he was a National Junior College Athletic Association All-American.
 
Lewandowski transferred to Slippery Rock prior to the 1995-96 season following the completion of his career at BC3 and proceeded to start 47 of 50 games played over the next two years. At SRU, he averaged 12.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 48.1 percent from the field and playing 32.1 minutes per game.
 
A two-time Slippery Rock team captain, Lewandowski also earned academic all-region honors for his performance in the classroom while at SRU. After exhausting his collegiate eligibility, Lewandowski played professionally in Denmark before entering the coaching ranks.
 
Since the conclusion of his playing career, Lewandowski has been a coaching fixture locally on both the club, high school and college levels in addition to his growing role within USA Basketball.
 
A former head coach at both Butler and Deer Lakes High School, Lewandowski also served as the head men's basketball coach at Point Park University for four seasons from 2018-22 before moving on to become the head coach at Butler County Community College.
 
In his first season at BC3 a year ago, Lewandowski led the Pioneers to a 20-4 record, a Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference Coach Tournament title and a Region 20 championship on the way to being ranked seventh in the year-end NJCAA rankings. For his efforts, Lewandowski was named the WPCC Coach of the Year.
 
A lifelong educator, Lewandowski is also an English teacher at Butler Senior High School.
 
The 2024 Paris Olympics begin July 26, with 3x3 basketball competition scheduled to run July 30-Aug. 5 at historic Place de la Concorde. Olympic coaching staffs, training camp information and complete competition schedule, will be announced by USA Basketball at a later date.
 
2024 marks the second Olympics in which 3x3 basketball will be part of the Olympic Program and, thanks in part to Lewandowski's efforts on the sidelines, the first in which the United States men's team has qualified.
 
Different than traditional 5x5 basketball, the 3x3 game is played on a half-court with a 10-minute game clock and 12-second shot clock. Play is continuous, as teams "clear" the ball behind the 2-point line following a made basket, defensive rebound or steal. The first team to score 21 points via 1-point field goals or 2-pointers behind the arc is victorious; or if time expires then the team leading wins.





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