Joe Lombardi (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Joe Lombardi is an American basketball coach currently the head coach for the Indiana University of Pennsylvania
(IUP) Crimson Hawks
of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
in NCAA
Division II. Prior to taking the head coaching position at IUP, Lombardi served as an assistant coach, including a nine-year tenure at La Salle University
and three season under Jamie Dixon
at the University of Pittsburgh
. In his fourth season with the Crimson Hawks in 2009–10, Lombardi led the team to the 2010 NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship
where they were defeated by the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos
. Following the season, Lomardi was named as the 2010 Basketball Times
Division II National Coach of the Year.
. He played high school basketball at Kennedy Christian High School
in Hermitage, Pennsylvania
. He attended Youngstown State University
from 1977 to 1981, where he was a four-time letterman in basketball, and served as team captain his final two seasons. He graduated with honors and a degree in education.
coach under Danny Nee
at Ohio University
during the 1981–82 season. The following season he served as a part-time assistant at Youngstown State. In 1984 he was appointed a full-time assistant at Indiana University of Pennsylvania
(IUP), where he served for three seasons.
Following his stint at IUP, Lombardi served as an assistant to Jim Baron
at Saint Francis University
in Loretto, Pennsylvania
from 1987 to 1992. During Lombardi's time at Saint Francis, the Red Flash had two of their best seasons in 20 years. During the 1990–91 season, the Red Flash recorded a 24–8 record, won the Northeast Conference
and earned the school's first appearance in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
as a #15 seed. Also at Saint Francis, Lombardi guided Mike Iuzzolino
, who was selected 35th overall by the Dallas Mavericks
in the 1991 NBA Draft
.
After his five-year tenure at Saint Francis, Lombardi served for nine seasons at St. Bonaventure University
, including as associate head coach from 1996 to 2001. In 2000 the Bonnies went 21–10, made the Atlantic 10 final
and the 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
. The Bonnies also appeared in the National Invitational Tournament in 1995, 1998 and 2001. At St. Bonaventure, Lombardi was responsible for recruiting J.R. Bremer, who was a National Basketball Association
All-Rookie second team
selection in 2002.
Between 2001 and 2003 Lombardi served as an assistant at La Salle University
under coach Bill Hahn. With the Explorers, Lombardi coached second-round Miami Heat
draft pick Rasual Butler
and helped revive the university's program.
In 2003, Lombardi joined the University of Pittsburgh
staff under head coach Jamie Dixon
. Lombardi was primarily focused on recruiting, scouting opponents, and player development. During his time at Pitt, the Panthers amassed a 76–22 record, played in the Big East Championship game
in 2004 and 2005, and advanced to their third consecutive Sweet Sixteen
in 2004. While with the Panthers, Lombardi was responsible for recruiting Gilbert Brown
and Sam Young, who was a 2009 All-American
and a 2009
second-round selection by the Memphis Grizzlies
.
In April 2006, Lombardi was named the head coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania
. The Crimson Hawks
compete in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
of NCAA Division II. Lombardi previously served as an assistant under Tom Beck for three seasons with IUP between 1984 and 1987.
In 2007, before the start of Lombardi's second season, the basketball team, as well as IUP's swimming team, was placed on probation by the NCAA for violations committed by his predecessor between 2000 and 2006. As a result, the basketball team had forfeited two athletic scholarships for the previous season, and Lombardi and his assistants were permitted a limited number of recruiting days away from campus.
In his first season, the team went 6–21, and improved to 13–15 during the next season. In 2008, the team returned to the PSAC Tournament. Lombardi continued to be successful in recruiting, coaching three consecutive PSAC West Freshman of the Year between 2006 and 2009. In 2008–09 the Crimson Hawks went 22–8 and returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005, and the first time under Lombardi. In the tournament
, IUP won its first-round match-up against Virginia Union
before being defeated by PSAC rival Kutztown
.
In 2009–10, the Crimson Hawks won a school-record of 33 games, finishing the season with a 33–3 record and ranked as high as #2 in the nation. The team set a PSAC record after finishing 13–1 in their West Division. They won the PSAC Tournament by defeating Gannon
, East Stroudsburg
and Kutztown, earning an automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA tournament
.
Upon entering the NCAA tournament, the Crimson Hawks won the Atlantic Regional bracket on their home court by defeating Fairmont State
, West Virginia State
, and West Liberty, and advanced to the Elite Eight at the MassMutual Center
in Springfield, Massachusetts
. In that national quarterfinal, the Crimson Hawks beat Valdosta State
, and defeated St. Cloud State
in the Final Four to advance to the team's first NCAA Championship Game.
In the championship, the Crimson Hawks were defeated by the Cal Poly Pomona
Broncos
, 65–53. The Crimson Hawks trailed the entire game. In the first half the Broncos led by as many as 14 points, and held a 35–25 halftime lead.
Following the 2009–10 season, Lombardi was named the Basketball Times Division II Coach of the Year, following the team's finish as national runner-up.
In 2010–11, Lombardi and the Crimson Hawks won their second consecutive PSAC West and overall tournament championships. They were selected as the second seed in the Atlantic Region before losing in the regional final to West Liberty.
|}
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania is a public university in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, USA. The university is northeast of Pittsburgh. It is the largest university in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and is the commonwealth's fifth largest university...
(IUP) Crimson Hawks
IUP Crimson Hawks
The Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks, commonly known as the IUP Crimson Hawks and formerly called the IUP Indians are the varsity athletic teams that represent Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The university and all of its teams compete in the Pennsylvania State Athletic...
of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference that participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II. The conference is composed of 16 full-time members within Pennsylvania and one associate member in New York...
in NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division II. Prior to taking the head coaching position at IUP, Lombardi served as an assistant coach, including a nine-year tenure at La Salle University
La Salle University
La Salle University is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Named for St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, the school was founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. As of 2008 the school has approximately 7,554...
and three season under Jamie Dixon
Jamie Dixon
Jamie Dixon is an American basketball head coach. He has served as the head coach of the University of Pittsburgh men's basketball team since 2003. In 2009 he was the head coach for the FIBA Under-19 2009 gold-medal winning United States national basketball team for which he was named the 2009 USA...
at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
. In his fourth season with the Crimson Hawks in 2009–10, Lombardi led the team to the 2010 NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship
2010 NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Tournament
The 2010 NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college basketball as a culmination of the 2009–10 basketball season. It began on March 13, 2010...
where they were defeated by the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos
Cal Poly Pomona Broncos
The Cal Poly Pomona Broncos or Cal Poly Broncos are the athletic sports team for the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona . Cal Poly Pomona has 12 varsity sports teams and offers student participation in a wide range of sports including soccer, volleyball, track and field, basketball, ...
. Following the season, Lomardi was named as the 2010 Basketball Times
Basketball Times
Basketball Times is an American basketball magazine that has been in circulation since 1978, and is published by The Hoop Group LLC. Basketball Times publishes monthly and mainly focuses on college basketball and basketball recruiting.- History :...
Division II National Coach of the Year.
Early life and playing career
Lombardi was raised in Sharon, PennsylvaniaSharon, Pennsylvania
Sharon is a city in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, in the United States, northwest of Pittsburgh. It is part of the Youngstown–Warren–Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
. He played high school basketball at Kennedy Christian High School
Kennedy Catholic High School (Hermitage, Pennsylvania)
Kennedy Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Hermitage, Pennsylvania. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie.-Background:...
in Hermitage, Pennsylvania
Hermitage, Pennsylvania
Hermitage is a city in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 16,157 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Youngstown–Warren–Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
. He attended Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University, founded in 1908, is an urban research university located in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. As of fall 2010, there were 15,194 students and a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. It is recognized as being one of the premier schools in the country, comparable to Ivy League...
from 1977 to 1981, where he was a four-time letterman in basketball, and served as team captain his final two seasons. He graduated with honors and a degree in education.
Coaching career
After graduating from Youngstown State, Lombardi served as a graduate assistantGraduate assistant
A graduate assistant is a position who serves in a support role at a university, usually while completing post-graduate education. The individual typically assists professors or with instructional responsibilities as teaching assistants, coaches with an athletic team, or university department...
coach under Danny Nee
Danny Nee
Danny Nee is the current Head Men's Basketball Coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. His career head coaching record as an NCAA Men's Basketball coach stands at 410-381.-Ohio University:...
at Ohio University
Ohio Bobcats
Ohio University features 16 varsity sports teams called the Bobcats. The Bobcats compete in the Mid-American Conference in all sports. The Bobcats were a charter member of the Mid-American Conference in 1946 and are the only team still in the conference from the original 5 team league that...
during the 1981–82 season. The following season he served as a part-time assistant at Youngstown State. In 1984 he was appointed a full-time assistant at Indiana University of Pennsylvania
IUP Crimson Hawks
The Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks, commonly known as the IUP Crimson Hawks and formerly called the IUP Indians are the varsity athletic teams that represent Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The university and all of its teams compete in the Pennsylvania State Athletic...
(IUP), where he served for three seasons.
Following his stint at IUP, Lombardi served as an assistant to Jim Baron
Jim Baron
Jim Baron is an American college basketball coach, and current the head men's basketball coach at the University of Rhode Island. He previously held the same position at Saint Francis University and St. Bonaventure University...
at Saint Francis University
Saint Francis University
Saint Francis University is a four-year, coeducational Catholic liberal arts university in Loretto, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1847 and conducted under the tradition of the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular...
in Loretto, Pennsylvania
Loretto, Pennsylvania
Loretto is a borough in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is officially part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area as recognized by the US Census Bureau, but local sources list it as part of the Altoona, Pennsylvania area due to its proximity to...
from 1987 to 1992. During Lombardi's time at Saint Francis, the Red Flash had two of their best seasons in 20 years. During the 1990–91 season, the Red Flash recorded a 24–8 record, won the Northeast Conference
Northeast Conference
The Northeast Conference is a college athletic conference whose schools are members of the NCAA. The NCAA designates the Northeast Conference to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision for Division I Men's Football and to Division I Sports for all other sports.Founded in 1981 as the ECAC-Metro...
and earned the school's first appearance in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
as a #15 seed. Also at Saint Francis, Lombardi guided Mike Iuzzolino
Mike Iuzzolino
Michael Alan Iuzzolino is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2nd round of the 1991 NBA Draft. Iuzzolino, a 5 foot 10 inch point guard, played two years in the NBA, both with the Mavericks averaging 9.0 ppg in his career...
, who was selected 35th overall by the Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
in the 1991 NBA Draft
1991 NBA Draft
The 1991 NBA Draft took place on June 26, 1991 in New York City, New York. Dikembe Mutombo is regarded as the best overall pick in this draft, becoming one of the greatest defensive centers in the history of the league. He was a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year award winner and an eight...
.
After his five-year tenure at Saint Francis, Lombardi served for nine seasons at St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University is a private, Franciscan Catholic university, located in Allegany, Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students....
, including as associate head coach from 1996 to 2001. In 2000 the Bonnies went 21–10, made the Atlantic 10 final
Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament
The Atlantic 10 Conference Men's Basketball Tournament is the conference championship tournament in men's basketball for the Atlantic 10 Conference . The tournament has been held every year since 1977. It is a single-elimination tournament, and seeding is based on regular season records...
and the 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2000, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
. The Bonnies also appeared in the National Invitational Tournament in 1995, 1998 and 2001. At St. Bonaventure, Lombardi was responsible for recruiting J.R. Bremer, who was a National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
All-Rookie second team
NBA All-Rookie Team
The NBA All-Rookie Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1962–63 NBA season to the top rookies during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches; who are not allowed to vote for players on their own team. The All-Rookie Team is generally...
selection in 2002.
Between 2001 and 2003 Lombardi served as an assistant at La Salle University
La Salle University
La Salle University is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Named for St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, the school was founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. As of 2008 the school has approximately 7,554...
under coach Bill Hahn. With the Explorers, Lombardi coached second-round Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
draft pick Rasual Butler
Rasual Butler
Rasual Butler is an American professional basketball player who plays for CB Gran Canaria in Spain. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and raised in the Point Breeze area of south Philadelphia.-La Salle:...
and helped revive the university's program.
In 2003, Lombardi joined the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
staff under head coach Jamie Dixon
Jamie Dixon
Jamie Dixon is an American basketball head coach. He has served as the head coach of the University of Pittsburgh men's basketball team since 2003. In 2009 he was the head coach for the FIBA Under-19 2009 gold-medal winning United States national basketball team for which he was named the 2009 USA...
. Lombardi was primarily focused on recruiting, scouting opponents, and player development. During his time at Pitt, the Panthers amassed a 76–22 record, played in the Big East Championship game
Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
The Big East Men's Basketball Tournament is the conference championship tournament in men's basketball for the Big East Conference. The winner receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. Since 1983, the tournament has been held in Madison Square...
in 2004 and 2005, and advanced to their third consecutive Sweet Sixteen
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
in 2004. While with the Panthers, Lombardi was responsible for recruiting Gilbert Brown
Gilbert Brown (basketball)
Gilbert Brown is an American basketball player who currently plays for S. Oliver Wurzburg in Germany.-High school:...
and Sam Young, who was a 2009 All-American
2009 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
An All-American team is an honorary sports team composed of the best amateur players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply "All-Americans". Although the honorees generally do not...
and a 2009
2009 NBA Draft
The 2009 NBA Draft was held on June 25, 2009, the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
second-round selection by the Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
.
In April 2006, Lombardi was named the head coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania is a public university in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, USA. The university is northeast of Pittsburgh. It is the largest university in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and is the commonwealth's fifth largest university...
. The Crimson Hawks
IUP Crimson Hawks
The Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks, commonly known as the IUP Crimson Hawks and formerly called the IUP Indians are the varsity athletic teams that represent Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The university and all of its teams compete in the Pennsylvania State Athletic...
compete in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference that participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II. The conference is composed of 16 full-time members within Pennsylvania and one associate member in New York...
of NCAA Division II. Lombardi previously served as an assistant under Tom Beck for three seasons with IUP between 1984 and 1987.
In 2007, before the start of Lombardi's second season, the basketball team, as well as IUP's swimming team, was placed on probation by the NCAA for violations committed by his predecessor between 2000 and 2006. As a result, the basketball team had forfeited two athletic scholarships for the previous season, and Lombardi and his assistants were permitted a limited number of recruiting days away from campus.
In his first season, the team went 6–21, and improved to 13–15 during the next season. In 2008, the team returned to the PSAC Tournament. Lombardi continued to be successful in recruiting, coaching three consecutive PSAC West Freshman of the Year between 2006 and 2009. In 2008–09 the Crimson Hawks went 22–8 and returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005, and the first time under Lombardi. In the tournament
2009 NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Tournament
The 2009 NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college basketball as a culmination of the 2008–09 basketball season...
, IUP won its first-round match-up against Virginia Union
Virginia Union University
Virginia Union University is a historically black university located in Richmond, Virginia, United States. It took its present name in 1899 upon the merger of two older schools, Richmond Theological Institute and Wayland Seminary, each founded after the end of American Civil War by the American...
before being defeated by PSAC rival Kutztown
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania , is an American public university located in rural Kutztown, Berks County, Pennsylvania and is one of fourteen schools that comprise the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary...
.
In 2009–10, the Crimson Hawks won a school-record of 33 games, finishing the season with a 33–3 record and ranked as high as #2 in the nation. The team set a PSAC record after finishing 13–1 in their West Division. They won the PSAC Tournament by defeating Gannon
Gannon University
Gannon University is a private, co-educational Catholic university offering associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees, certificates and doctoral degrees and is located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Gannon University has an alumni base numbering around 31,500. Current enrollment is 4,238.Gannon's...
, East Stroudsburg
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is a public university located in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. It is one of the 14 state universities that compose the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education . It is commonly referred to as ESU by its students and members of the community...
and Kutztown, earning an automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA tournament
2010 NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Tournament
The 2010 NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college basketball as a culmination of the 2009–10 basketball season. It began on March 13, 2010...
.
Upon entering the NCAA tournament, the Crimson Hawks won the Atlantic Regional bracket on their home court by defeating Fairmont State
Fairmont State University
Fairmont State University is a public university located in Fairmont, West Virginia, USA. Enrollment of the university is about 7,700 and offers masters degrees in business, education, teaching, criminal justice and nursing in addition to 90 baccalaureate and 50 associate degrees...
, West Virginia State
West Virginia State University
West Virginia State University is a historically black public college in Institute, West Virginia, United States. In the Charleston-metro area, the school is usually referred to simply as "State" or "West Virginia State"...
, and West Liberty, and advanced to the Elite Eight at the MassMutual Center
MassMutual Center
The MassMutual Center is a multi-purpose arena and convention center, in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. Built in the city's Metro Center across from Court Square, the facility opened in 1972 as the Springfield Civic Center and was at that time considered to be the largest arena in the...
in Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
. In that national quarterfinal, the Crimson Hawks beat Valdosta State
Valdosta State University
Valdosta State University, also referred to as VSU, or Valdosta State, is an American public university and is one of the two regional universities in the University System of Georgia. Valdosta State is located on a campus at the heart of the city of Valdosta...
, and defeated St. Cloud State
St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud State University is a four-year public university founded in 1869 on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States. The university is the largest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system which is the largest single provider of higher...
in the Final Four to advance to the team's first NCAA Championship Game.
In the championship, the Crimson Hawks were defeated by the Cal Poly Pomona
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, or Cal Poly Pomona, is a public university located in Pomona, California, United States...
Broncos
Cal Poly Pomona Broncos
The Cal Poly Pomona Broncos or Cal Poly Broncos are the athletic sports team for the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona . Cal Poly Pomona has 12 varsity sports teams and offers student participation in a wide range of sports including soccer, volleyball, track and field, basketball, ...
, 65–53. The Crimson Hawks trailed the entire game. In the first half the Broncos led by as many as 14 points, and held a 35–25 halftime lead.
Following the 2009–10 season, Lombardi was named the Basketball Times Division II Coach of the Year, following the team's finish as national runner-up.
In 2010–11, Lombardi and the Crimson Hawks won their second consecutive PSAC West and overall tournament championships. They were selected as the second seed in the Atlantic Region before losing in the regional final to West Liberty.
Head coaching record
Standings are for the PSAC West Division.|}