Mt. Lebanon coach resigns
Dori Oldaker is keeping her day job. The Mt. Lebanon High School girls basketball coach, however, resigned on June 29.
“Believe it or not,” she said of teaching second grade at Washington Elementary School, “that is my real job.”
The decision to not continue coaching, she added, was an “extremely tough” one.
“I believe it is the right one though,” she said.
Oldaker cited two reasons for “walking away” from a position about which she is passionate, not to mention successful. She sports a 495-139 career record.
Taylor and Ryan are her children and she wants to see them play sports, particularly basketball, in high school. Oldaker makes her home in South Fayette and Taylor and Ryan play basketball for the Lady Lions, who were the WPIAL Class 5 champions this winter. Taylor will be a junior and Ryan a freshman in the fall.
“I truly look forward to not only cheering on my two daughters, but all the players on the team,” Oldaker said. “SF had an amazing girls basketball season last year, so I am excited to see more games.”
Oldaker has played in and coached in more games than she can remember.
After excelling at Blackhawk and Penn State, Oldaker embarked on her coaching career. She coached for seven years as a junior varsity assistant before taking the head position at her high school alma mater. In those four seasons, she guided the Cougars to two WPIAL titles.
After a stint as an assistant coach at the University of Pittsburgh, Oldaker arrived at Mt. Lebanon. In that 2003-04, the Blue Devils went 11-12 for the only losing season in Oldaker’s career.
In 19 seasons at Mt. Lebanon, Oldaker compiled a 390-121 overall mark with a section record of 193-37. She coached the Blue Devils to four WPIAL championships, three PIAA titles and two district and state runner-up trophies.
“Too many special moments,” she said when asked to select one highlight.
“it was never about the wins and losses,” she continued. “It was all about the relationships and friendships. I am going to miss the players and coaches.”
Oldaker also has coached internationally with USA Basketball.
She led Team USA to a 3×3 U18 gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games in China in 2014, and guided Team USA to bronze medals at the 2015 FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Mexico and the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship in Spain.
Oldaker though is most proud of the fact that so many of her players not only stay in touch but many come back and sit on the bench as her assistants. This year her coaching staff included Emma Pellicano, Lauren Arbogast, Jaclyn (Babe) Delsardo and Madison Cable, a Notre Dame standout.
“No one is ever successful alone. I am only because we are,” she added stressing her coaching philosophy. “Winning WPIALs and states were so gratifying. Lebo means the world to me and my family.”
Oldaker goes out on a high note. This winter, the Blue Devils posted a 27-2 record. They won a WPIAL title and finished runner-up in the PIAA.
“Winning a WPIAL and being runner up in the state championship was tremendous in my final year of coaching,” she said.
“I feel blessed that I was able to be a part of the Mt. Lebanon basketball family. I love Lebo and I am so grateful to the athletic department and administration, parents, players (past and present), coaches and community.
“This was an extremely tough decision, but it’s the right one,” she added.
The decision, however, may not be permanent.
“Never say never,” Oldaker said of a return to the bench. “Right now, it’s time for my family.”