The newest member of the Pitt-Johnstown coaching staff is excited for the opportunity to forward her career, despite the fact that the job will require a foray into unfamiliar territory.

Working with the guards as an assistant women’s basketball coach shouldn’t be a problem for Erin Eaton, who held a similar position for three years at Bethany (W.Va.) College. But, adding the responsibilities of leading the women’s cross country and golf programs will present new challenges, because she has no background in either.

Still, Eaton said she is confident that things will work out.

“Obviously, I have a coaching background with basketball,” she said. “I talked to the girls who are returning on both other teams, and everyone is very excited. To be honest, if I didn’t think it was a doable situation, I don’t think I would have been asked to do it, and I wouldn’t have agreed to.”

Eaton said her first impressions of UPJ were favorable, she exudes enthusiasm about the chance to coach the Mountain Cats, and she draws confidence from the teamwork she sees among others in the school’s sports programs, including wrestling coach and interim Athletic Director Pat Pecora and his assistant.

“We have a great support system in the athletic department,” Eaton said. “Coach Pecora and Nikki Babik have been very supportive and very helpful. I was excited to accept the position. I just loved it at UPJ when I went on my interview. The campus is beautiful, and everyone is so helpful and so friendly.”

In her three seasons at Bethany, Eaton was responsible for recruiting, strength, conditioning and development of guards. During her time with the program, Bethany finished third in the President’s Athletic Conference regular season and was tied for 15th nationally with 14.1 steals per game. Eaton’s guards were named conference players of the week three times, were recognized seven times with all-conference honors and garnered a D3hoops.com Great Lakes all-region award.

UPJ coach Sasha Palmer said she believes Eaton will be an asset to the women’s program.

“I think it’s great that Erin’s going to be our assistant,” Palmer said. “We were actually lucky to get her. She did a great job at Bethany. She helped with camp here, and the girls really liked her. She’s a guard coach, and that’s the opposite of me. I think she’ll do really well with the guards.”

Eaton agreed that her style will complement Palmer’s.

“I think the competitive attitude and the intensity that the girls have comes from Coach Palmer,” she said. “That’s what I liked in my interview. I do think we’re going to be successful. We have a very solid recruiting class coming in, and we return a lot of key contributors from last year. The girls are working hard, and they weren’t satisfied last year.”

Eaton said she came into UPJ aware of the tradition of winning teams under longtime coach Jodi Gault, as well as the 10-18 (9-11 WVIAC) record posted last season, Palmer’s first as the coach.

“Basically, I’m really excited to help the program get back on track and continue the winning tradition,” she said. “The program’s going in the right direction with Coach Palmer. We’re going to be successful. We want to win. That’s the bottom line.”

Eaton is a native of Sebring, Ohio, who resides in Greensburg. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Elmira (N.Y.) College, where she started at point guard for three years. She is third all-time in assists and fifth in 3-point field goals for the Soaring Eagles. She holds a master’s degree from West Virginia University.

Eaton makes no secret that her goal is to have her own program one day, and said she feels that coaching cross country and golf as well as helping with women’s basketball will provide valuable experience.

“I want to be a head collegiate basketball coach,” she said. “I was at Bethany for three years, and I hope to be at UPJ for a similar time frame and see where it goes from there. I think any coaching experience is beneficial to me, especially at the collegiate level. I’m just working my way up and very excited to have the opportunity at the Division II level. Ultimately, when I do start looking for a head-coaching job, this will help me decide whether I want to be at Division III or Division II.

“Anytime you’re looking to take a next step in your career, you look for a situation that’s a great opportunity,” Eaton said. “To be honest, I think this is a great opportunity. It’s one that will allow me to reach out and explore other sports in terms of coaching, and to help continue to build some programs at UPJ.”