Saint Vincent College

A legend in the local high school coaching ranks, Dana Petruska joined son Jimmy’s Saint Vincent coaching staff for the 2023-24 season. Over her 37-year high school coaching career, Petruska amassed a career record of 518-325. At the time of her retirement, she was one of just three active coaches in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) with more than 500 victories.

Petruska coached at Mars Area High School for 27 seasons in two stints, the latest starting in 2015. She also spent eight seasons coaching her alma mater, Deer Lakes High School, where she won 111 games.

In 2018, Petruska was named both the Pennsylvania Sports Writers Coach of the Year and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Coach of the Year after guiding Mars to a 24-6 record and its first PIAA State Championship.  She earned her 500th career win on Feb. 8, 2022, when Mars topped Plum, 57-47. 

Petruska was a multi-sport standout at Deer Lakes High School before going on to play collegiate basketball at the University of Pittsburgh,  before serving as a health and physical education teacher in the Mars Area School District.