Andrew Garcia
Assistant Men's Basketball Coach
The Carnegie Mellon University’s men’s basketball program welcomes Andrew Garcia for his first season as the full-time assistant coach in 2011.
Garcia comes to Carnegie Mellon from Division II Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, where he served as the men’s assistant coach last season. Prior to his stint with the Saints, he spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Marshall University.
“I am delighted with the addition of Coach Garcia to our staff. His background as a Division I athlete in two sports and as a coach in Division I and II has enabled Drew to bring a unique perspective to our teaching and recruiting,” commented Head Coach Tony Wingen. “Drew’s work on the floor and his technical knowledge are vital to the development of our young players.”
Garcia played three seasons of basketball at Tulane University, where he led the Green Wave in assists both years. As a senior, Garcia was the team’s captain, a member of the Conference USA All-Academic Team and scored a career-high 23 points in a pivotal Conference USA game against the University of Southern Mississippi. Before attending Tulane, Garcia was a walk-on for the University of Pittsburgh’s football team in 2003.
The Pittsburgh native and a 2003 graduate of Central Catholic High School earned his bachelor's in history from Tulane in 2006 and completed his master's in adult technical education at Marshall University in 2009. Garcia will take on the responsibility of recruiting coordinator as well as full-time assistant coach.
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Coach Garcia
Ray Pietras
Assistant Men's Basketball Coach
Ray Pietras enters his 17th season as an assistant coach for the men’s basketball team. A native of McKeesport, Pa., and a well-known veteran of the local high school basketball scene, Pietras spends most of his practice time with the Tartans’ perimeter players. He also provides the Tartans with detailed scouting reports.
“Coach Pietras has a tremendous relationship with the players, which allows him to really connect with them as a teacher,” Coach Wingen said. “His wealth of experience makes him an asset as a game planner. There is literally nothing in the game that Ray hasn’t seen.”
From 1983-94, Pietras served as the head boys basketball coach at Canon McMillan High School. Under his leadership, the team made three trips to the WPIAL playoffs. He coached the WPIAL All-Stars in the preliminary game of the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic and in two Washington-Greene County All-Star games. From 1980-82, Pietras was the assistant boys coach at Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School. The Vikings went 53-12 in two seasons and advanced to the WPIAL playoffs three times. Pietras also served as boy’s assistant coach at McKeesport Area High School from 1978-81.
His coaching career began at South Hills Catholic High School, where he served as head coach of the junior varsity basketball team and as an assistant football coach from 1976-1979. Under his direction, the junior-varsity team compiled a three-year 45-11 record, including a 20-0 slate in 1977-78.
A four-year letterwinner in basketball, Pietras graduated from Frostburg State University in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education. Three years ago, Pietras and his teammates from the 1971 squad were honored as the winningest team in school history (24-4). In the fall of 2009, Pietras was inducted into the Bobcat Hall of Fame.
Pietras is a physical education teacher at Canon McMillan. He has been the program coordinator for the Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department for the past 28 summers and is a former administrator of the renowned Metro Index Basketball Camps.
Pietras resides in Mt. Lebanon, Pa. with his wife Jan.
Wahab Owolabi
Assistant Men's Basketball Coach
Wahab Owolabi begins his first season on the Carnegie Mellon University men’s basketball staff.
A 2009 graduate of Washington & Jefferson College, Owolabi was a three-time Presidents’ Athletic Conference player and a two-year captain for the Presidents. During his senior season, he was named the ECAC South Division Tournament Most Valuable Player after leading Washington & Jefferson to the ECAC Division III South Tournament Championship. Owolabi ended his playing career with 1,078 points and 655 rebounds.
Owolabi graduated from Washington & Jefferson with a bachelor's degree in economics. The Queens, New York native worked in the admissions office at Carnegie Mellon for two years before moving to his current role as Assistant Director for Employer Development in the University’s Career Center.
“Wahab is another excellent addition to the staff. He has a very broad set of experiences as a Division III basketball player, in the admissions office, and now with the Career Center,” said Head Coach Tony Wingen. “Coach Owolabi will be able to support our players in their development on and off the floor.”
