GREENVILLE, Pa. – Thiel College alumnus Dave Pilipovich '86 received the 2024 Athletic Alumni Commendation Award Monday during the Department of Athletics' annual retreat, where he served as guest speaker.
 
The Athletic Alumni Commendation Award is one of two yearly awards granted by the Thiel College Department of Athletics. It is presented to a former Thiel student-athlete who has been an outstanding role model for youth and has made a significant contribution to his or her community through the venue of athletics.
 
A native of Duquesne, Pa., Pilipovich was a four-year member of Thiel's basketball team, and served as team captain as a senior. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Thiel in 1986.
 
Pilipovich has since spent more than 35 years as a men's basketball coach, beginning as a graduate assistant at California University (Pa.), where he completed a master's degree in geography and regional planning.
 
Other assistant coach stints by Pilipovich include: Florida Atlantic, Georgia State, Robert Morris, Eastern Michigan, Michigan and Air Force. He served as head coach at Air Force for eight seasons from 2012-20.
 
Pilipovich was also an assistant for the Austin Spurs, the NBA G League development team for the San Antonio Spurs. Last season, he helped New Mexico win the Mountain West Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
 
Dave and his wife, Kelly, have two children, Kyle and Kelsey.