Pensacola Junior College selects one of its own, Pete Pena, to head the men’s basketball program. He replaces head coach Paul Swanson, who stepped down March 11.
“We are glad to announce the hiring of Pete Pena as the new men’s basketball coach,” said PJC Athletic Director Bill Hamilton. “Although Pete is not really ‘new,’ his duties will be, as he takes on this challenging role. All of us congratulate Coach Pena and look forward to the 2010-2011 Pirate basketball season with renewed optimism.”
PJC President Ed Meadows said, “Coach Pena appreciates and understands the level of competition in the Panhandle Conference, and he also understands the expectations of PJC’s fan base.
“PJC’s administration is pleased with Coach Pena’s willingness to accept the challenge and opportunity to produce a winning team where his student athletes are successful both on the court and in academics. I am excited we have selected a highly capable person with such enthusiasm and integrity as Coach Pena.”
Pena has spent the last 11 years as PJC’s head volleyball coach, but prior to taking the PJC volleyball post in 1999, all of Pena’s coaching experience was in basketball. Pena spent 10 seasons (1989-99) as head coach at Catholic High, posting a 143-156 record while taking the Crusaders to the regional playoffs three times. He also served two stints as an assistant basketball coach at PJC, one under Chip Boes (1979-82) and another alongside Kirk Speraw (1987-89). In Pena’s five seasons as a PJC assistant, the Pirates won the Panhandle Conference championship every year.
“This is an outstanding opportunity that I am proud to have,” Pena said. “To be the basketball coach at the school you love makes this very special. I will expend all my energy not to disappoint.”
Pena’s wife, Brenda, is PJC’s head softball coach.