From the Bench: Former BMS Hoops Player Reaches Pinnacle of Coaching Excellence at NCAA D-II Level
By Jeff Toquinto on April 12, 2026 from Sports Blog
It was around 2002 when I was talking to my friend and former Bridgeport Middle School assistant basketball Coach John Minnocci. He pointed out something about one of the sixth grade players on the team.
Minnocci let me know the kid “had it.” It was not the first time he had proclaimed that about a player. And as far as basketball ability went, the player in question certainly fared well.
First, with a brief stint at BMS, then later at Morgantown High School and eventually a run on West Virginia University’s team under Bob Huggins. However, what this player “had” that led to the coach’s proclamation was not ability on the court. Rather, it was what the young player saw on the court.
Minnocci told me about a quarter century ago that this player was going to be a coach. And I was told if that was what he went all in, he was going to be a good one.
Turns out (for once), Minnocci was correct.
“We were having tryouts and had teams playing. The teams that weren’t playing were all sitting down, watching, and talking. One was standing, watching, and talking to himself, dissecting the game. I remember seeing a bad shot and he said, ‘that should have been a pass.’ But it was more than that,” said Minnocci. “… (Former) Coach (Bill) Shaver and I both saw it. At that age, he saw the game differently.”
If you’re wondering who the “he” in question is, it would be former Braves player, and former city resident Craig Carey. For those wondering how the coaching prediction turned out, this year, in his third season as head coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 
Carey took the women’s basketball team to the national championship game.
Carey took the women’s basketball team to the national championship game.
“I remember doing that as a player. I had an interest in the game beyond playing, which I loved. I enjoyed watching it and figuring out what was going on,” Carey said. “I picked that up as a kid watching my dad’s teams play at Salem. I would watch footwork, rotations, and things like that. Even today, when I put a game on television, I’m not watching the action as much as I’m looking at what teams are running against one another.
“It’s to the point I don’t like to watch a game just to watch it. I don’t enjoy that,” he continued. “I’m looking at aspects of the game. Everyone else is cheering someone scoring, and I’m looking at the way the score and the defense that allowed it. It’s how my brain works because I’ve always been around the game.”
It is hoops collateral damage if you are the son of Hall of Fame Salem University men’s basketball Coach Mike Carey and Hall of Fame West Virginia University Women’s basketball coach.
Even before getting into coaching, the 2008 Morgantown High graduate was around the game as he worked his way toward a degree at
West Virginia University in Criminology in 2012 (and a master’s in 2015). Carey was working players out, prepping them to be better at the game.
West Virginia University in Criminology in 2012 (and a master’s in 2015). Carey was working players out, prepping them to be better at the game.
“I enjoyed that. It came easy, and honestly, that was the venue I though my career would go because I loved doing something that was simple to me,” he said. “I was working out some of my dad’s players, some of the (WVU) men’s players, and some of the Fairmont State guys.”
According to his biography on the IUP Website, Carey was an assistant for his father from 2015 until his father retired following the 2021-22 season. Before his stint as an assistant coach, Carey worked on the team’s support staff, responsible for several things, including video coordinator and camp counselor.
Anyone who knows Mike Carey knows Craig Carey earned the assistant job after being on the support staff. Mike Carey may love family, but no one is getting a job on his staff unless they can contribute and know the game.
“When I was (on the support staff as) the video coordinator, I would watch games and give my dad and the other coach’s suggestions on plays and they would use some of the schemes and rotations I suggested,” said Carey. “I liked what I was doing and when the coaching job came open, I got it.”
When Mike Carey retired following the 2021-22 season, Craig Carey intended on going back to working out players and making a living off it before fate stepped in.
“I’m friends with Anthony Leonard, who was a WVU linebacker and at that time he was an assistant football coach (at IUP). He knew the women’s job was open and asked me if I was interested, and I was out of a job, so I was interested,” Craig Carey said. “I ended up talking with the athletic director (Todd Garzarelli) but didn’t hear anything for a while.”
Carey’s plan shifted. He was going to head to New Jersey and begin working out players there. Before the move, Garzarelli called.
“(Garzarelli) asked if I could come for a visit,” said Carey. “He showed me around at a time when school had already started and the coaching position was still open.”
In short order, the job was offered in September of 2022. However, it was offered on an interim basis. This was not a slap at Carey’s ability, but rather a cautious move in replacing a coach who had established a solid program.
Carey was replacing Tom McConnell, the winningest coach in program history, who retired in July 2022 after nine seasons and 197 wins.
“I asked him that if I did a good job, would I have a chance to earn it full time, and I was told that I would. I took a gamble and rolled the dice,” said Carey.
As it turned out, the gamble paid off. And it paid off immediately despite no chance to recruit in his first year, and not having a player returning that averaged more than five points a game. That first year, Carey took the IUP women’s team to an 18-10 record in 2022-23.
The interim tag would be gone. The full-time tag was applied.
For the next two seasons, Carey showed it was no fluke. In 2023-24, the Crimson Haws not only became a force in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference but qualified for the NCAA Division II tournament with a 21-8 record.
That was followed by a 2024-25 campaign ending with another NCAA appearance and a 23-8 record.
Then, there was this year.
Carey took IUP on a journey it had never been on in school history. The season concluded with a 31-4 record with the school’s seventh PSAC championship, an undefeated (13-0) conference record, Carey being named PSAC Coach of the Year, an Atlantic Region championship, and an appearance in the NCAA Division II national championship contest.
About the only thing that did not happen in the magical run was a win in the title game. Grand Valley State proved too much in a 72-49 setback.
“I knew we were a top 10 or 15 team talent wise but did not know it would get to that extent. The difference was that in the past we always had the defense,” he said. “This year, we secured scoring and we could do it quickly because of the portal.”
Carey knew his team had a chance to make a run early, and well into the season. He also knew, after breaking down Grand Valley State the task was monumental.
“I could tell they were good,” said Carey. “…It wasn’t a good matchup because they were longer, taller, and a bit more athletic. We needed 
to play perfect game, and they played their hearts out. It didn’t happen. Grand Valley was just a strong team.”
to play perfect game, and they played their hearts out. It didn’t happen. Grand Valley was just a strong team.”
Carey believes his team can get back to the pinnacle again. He said in the age of NIL you must have the resources to compete.
“You either have the NIL resources at a high level, or you don’t have it at a high level. We don’t,” said Carey. “We have the best we can get, and we got results because the team bought in, and battled. When that happens, you have a chance. At the same time, you can see what teams can do at every level when, resource wise, they have the advantage.”
Carey is hopeful that the NIL will level itself out at IUP, on the Division II level, and throughout the NCAA. Regardless of how it shakes out, his plan is to coach players up, and win with defense, strategy, and getting the most out of the entire roster. He said he has witnessed that strategy work for decades.
“In a lot of things, you can see my father’s influence. I still bounce things off him and to have someone that’s been through it that you know has your back is something I’ll always take advantage of,” he said. “In other ways, we’re not the same. He was more hard-nosed than I am and I do not run everything that he ran, which is just a result of the game changing.
“One bit of advice he gave me was to enjoy the moment after we came up short in the title game. He knew exactly where my mind was,
but told me to take a couple of days, don’t think about the portal and live in the moment,” Carey said. “He told me the recruits will be there.”
but told me to take a couple of days, don’t think about the portal and live in the moment,” Carey said. “He told me the recruits will be there.”
He took the advice. And then he went back to it, with his assistants, hitting the phones and the recruiting trail. There are holes to fill, he said, including replacing the team’s leading scorer.
So, does he plan to stay at IUP after amassing a 93-30 (75.6 winning percentage) in four seasons?
“It’s a good situation here. We have a great AD and great support from the school and the town,” said Carey, still in his 30s. “I wouldn’t leave for just anything. It would have to be a fantastic opportunity with a chance to win without building from nothing. You never say never, but I’m always more comfortable knowing I can win and win now. I despise losing.”
That would be another trait from dad.
Editor's Note: The photos of Craig Carey coaching at IUP are from IUP's Web site or Facebook pages. The cover photo, which is the next to last photo in this story, is from The Penn, IUP's student newspaper, and was taken by Tymir Clark.
