Joe LaBella steps into the Blue Streaks storied men’s basketball program with quite a basketball and athletic resume to his name. LaBella has served as a high school athletic director and basketball coach for more than 25 years. Most recently, LaBella served as the Athletic Director at Cuyahoga Heights (OH) High School and did so since 2003.
LaBella, served as an assistant coach on the men’s basketball team at the University of Wisconsin Platteville from 1999-2003. Prior to joining the Pioneers' staff in 1999, LaBella was the head coach at Independence (OH) High School for 12 seasons, where his teams won six sectional titles, one district championship (1997-98) and reached the regional finals for the first time in school history in 1998 with a 19-6 record. LaBella was named the Division IV Coach of the Year by the Coaches’ Association in the 1997-98 season.
Before leading Independence to unprecedented success, LaBella guided Cleveland Central Catholic to the school’s first-ever district titles in back-to-back seasons in 1981 and 1982. His efforts also earned him the 1981-82 Greater Cleveland Basketball Coaches Association Class AA-AA Coach of the Year. In 1986-87, LeBella led his team to their first-ever league crown and garnered Conference Coach of the Year accolades. While at Central Catholic, LaBella also served as the school’s Athletic Director. In his 23 years as a high school boys varsity head coach, LaBella compiled a 262-238 record, and a 330-271 mark in his 29 total years of coaching.
In the Spring of 2000, LaBella earned the prestigious honor of Team Ohio Head Coach. As coach, he led a team of Division I bound players to a tournament title at the Wendy’s Classic. His Ohio squad faced Division I caliber players from Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. Of his many accolades, he received the GCBCA Golden Deeds Award in 2000, in addition to an honor that not many others can claim, as the 2009 GCBCA 25th Annual All-Star game was dedicated in his name. LaBella and his wife Marion have two daughters, Lisa and Kristy.
