Following last season’s Northeast Conference championship team, Robert Morris women’s basketball coach Sal Buscaglia contemplated handing over the reins to the program to his son, Charlie.

However according to a statement released by the Robert Morris Athletic Department on Saturday, the 61 year old will retire after the 2015-16 season, concluding a 13 year stint in Moon Twp.

“After last year’s championship season, I started to have serious thoughts about retirement,” he said. “And when you have thoughts about it, it’s time to do it. It’s been a great run of nearly 40 years and I look forward to this year’s playoffs and next year as well.”

Since coming to RMU in 2003 from Manhattan College, Buscaglia has transformed the women’s basketball team into an NEC powerhouse, going 141-57 in league games over the past 10 seasons.

The youngest Buscaglia, the current associate head coach and chief recruiter who will assume the head coaching duties following his father’s retirement, was responsible for signing 13 All-NEC players, including former standout Artemis Spanou and current guard Ashely Ravelli.

“Recruiting has vastly taken off for the program with Charlie being the recruiting coordinator,” Sal said. “We have brought in a very high level of talent the last 11 years to our program, and that is a testament to how well Charlie can evaluate and recruit quality basketball players.”

During his nearly four decade tenure as a head coach, Buscaglia has garnered 16 coach of the year awards, led squads to four NCAA Tournament appearances and has won 690 games, 200 of which have come while at RMU.

“It was a very hard decision for Coach Sal to retire,” Charlie said. “Being alongside him the last 12 years at RMU, I can only imagine how hard of a decision it was to make after coaching for 39 years. It’s a big step for him to make the decision to walk away from coaching. He is going to be leaving behind a great career and legacy. It will be a hard act to follow.”

Gallery • 1 Photos

Paul Wintruba