Tom Dowling
(863) 297-1051

PCC BASKETBALL COACH MATT FURJANIC RECEIVES HONOR

10/01/2007: Polk Community College head basketball coach Matt Furjanic is Hall of Fame bound. Furjanic, who is now entering his eighth year as head coach of the PCC Vikings, was recently notified that he will inducted on November 10 into the Athletic Hall of Fame at  Robert Morris University (RMU) in Pennsylvania where he served as the men’s head basketball coach from 1979 to 1984.

During his five year tenure of coaching the RMU Colonials, Furjanic chalked up an overall record of 73-71 and led RMU to its first two NCAA Tournament's in 1982 and 1983. He is the only men's basketball coach in RMU history with a winning percentage of over .500 (.507), and he earned NEC Coach of the Year honors in 1983 after leading the Colonials to an overall record of 23-8. Furjanic also led RMU to its only victory in the NCAA Tournament, a 64-54 victory over Georgia Southern in the opening round of the 1983 tourney.

            Since coming to PCC, Furjanic has continued his winning ways, compiling an impressive overall record of 123-96 in his first seven seasons as the Vikings’ head coach. His PCC teams have won two Suncoast Conference titles and in 2004 his squad was the Florida state runner up. In recognition of his accomplishments at PCC, Furjanic has been selected as the Suncoast Conference Coach of the Year two times.

Due in large measure to Furjanic’s expertise as a coach and mentor, 20 PCC players have earned scholarships at four-year institutions during his tenure. Topping the list of  PCC players who have gone on to excel at the university level after honing their skills under Furjanic’s coaching are Marcus Neal (Nebraska), Chris Brown (Tennessee Chattanooga), Emmanuel Adeife (UNLV) and Djero Riedewald (Tennessee Martin).

Furjanic has 25 years of combined experience as a head basketball coach at both the high school and collegiate levels. His career coaching record is 409-293 and his teams have gone on to win a regular season or conference tournament championship in 13 of his 25 years as a coach.

The Hall of Fame coach earned his bachelor’s degree from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. He and his wife, Rita, have three children and three grandchildren.