Coach Michael Wernicki comes to Shenango following time at Struthers High School in Struthers, Ohio.  During his six seasons as Head Coach at Struthers, the Wildcats won three consecutive NE8 Conference Championships, two Sectional Championships, and a District Championship in 2021.  During the 2020-21 season the Wildcats won their first 25 games and earned a number two state ranking in Ohio before losing to number one-Akron St. Vincent St. Mary in the Regional Semifinal. During his six seasons at Struthers, Wernicki was named 2019-20 Northeast Ohio Inland District Coach of the Year, Mahoning Valley Coach of the Year, 2020-21 Northeast Ohio Inland District Coach of the Year, Mahoning Valley Coaches Association Coach of the Year, and OHSBCA District 1 Coach of the Year.

Previously, Wernicki spent 12 years as part of the Youngstown State coaching staff as Associate Head Coach. Prior to his time with the Penguins, he spent two years at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY, totaling 14 years as an assistant coach at the Division I level and 20 years overall coaching college basketball.

A native of Erie, PA, Wernicki played basketball for the University of Pittsburgh. During his career, the Panthers made appearances in the 1992 NIT and the 1993 NCAA Tournament. Wernicki graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and English Writing from Pitt in 1996. Michael and his wife Maura, a second teacher at Struthers Elementary in Struthers, Ohio, and former student-athlete at John Carroll, reside in Poland with their son, Maxwell.

The 2024-25 season will mark the first at Penn State Shenango for Coach Wernicki.