Indiana University of Pennsylvania Athletics

In his first three years as head men's basketball coach at IUP, coach Herm Sledzik patiently but determinedly mentored his teams to an overall 31 -28 record. Then, in 1966, Garry Lupek signed on with the Indians, after having played his freshman season at Saint Francis.
Sledzik points to Lupek as a benchmark player who, together with some very talented teammates, led his three teams (in 1966-69) to a combined 51-20 record. The Indians advanced to the NAIA postseason playoff in both '68 and '69.
In his senior campaign, IUP opened with 21 straight wins, not losing until the final regular-season contest at Division I Cleveland State of Ohio.
Three individual records Lupek set stand today, for career rebounds (881), single-season foulshooting percentage (83.5 as a sophomore) and rebounds in a single game (27 against Shippensburg as a junior).
His 333 rebounds as a junior rank second on IUP's all-time single-season list, and he ranks eighth in career scoring with 1358 points, fourth in career points per game at 19.1. His career 78.3 free throw percentage ranks fourth.
Lupek is one of four IUP all-time players to lead the team in scoring for three straight seasons. As a sophomore, he averaged 17.8 points and 11.2 rebounds. In his second game in an IUP uniform, an 81-80 home win over Westminster, he scored 35.
As a junior, he averaged 21 points and 13.9 'bounds; in a 96-73 win at Clarion, he scored 36 points (34 on field goals) and charted 25 rebounds. As a senior, he averaged 18.5 points and 12.1 rebounds; in a 103-66 win over Slippery Rock, he scored 34.
Immediately after graduating, the geography and social studies major first tried his hand at pro basketball, for the Sunbury Mercuries in the Eastern League.
Then he returned home, to Johnstown, to teach Pennsylvania history, civics and driver education and to coach high school roundball at Conemaugh Valley High.
The court results? A 370-218 record that includes eight section titles, four conference championships, a PIAA District Six crown, plus three other trips to the district final. In 1974-75 Lupek took time out to assist coach Carl Davis at IUP.
Married to the former Diane Poborski since 1984, they are the parents of two sons, Joshua, 13, and James, 8.