From a high school athletics perspective, having a former student-athlete return as a coach is the ultimate full-circle journey. 

It’s even better when the coach looks back to their own positive high school experience to then pave the way for the next crop of students. 

Well, that’s exactly what is now happening at The Mary Louis Academy (TMLA), Jamaica Estates. Briana Podlovits, a 2012 TMLA graduate, is the new head varsity basketball coach for the Hilltoppers. 

A native of Middle Village, Podlovits began playing basketball in the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) for her home parish and grammar school, St. Margaret. At TMLA, she spent two years on junior varsity and two years on varsity, with her senior year as a team captain. 

The shooting guard/small forward went on to play at Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh, New York, but an ankle injury cut her playing career short. Given her passion for the sport, she decided to pursue a coaching career. 

“I always knew I wanted to coach,” Podlovits said. “I had really great coaches starting from elementary school through high school and into college. That was definitely something I had my eyes on.” 

In breaking into the coaching ranks, she went right back to where it all started: St. Margaret. The parish needed a third-grade girls’ CYO coach, and Podlovits was up for the task. 

She remained with that team until they graduated, and she now coaches three separate teams at St. Margaret while also serving as the parish’s athletic director. This is all in addition to her TMLA coaching and her full-time job working for a printing/media company in Bushwick. 

Prior to this season, longtime TMLA girls’ varsity head coach JoAnn Arbitello Pinnock stepped aside after 16 years coaching at the school. She reached out to Podlovits saying the latter should interview for the position. Next thing you know, Podlovits got the job and has hit the ground running. 

“I loved my four years at the school,” she said. “I loved my basketball experience there. It was always a second home to me. Why not return home?” 

“Briana is the perfect fit to continue the legacy of the program as she embodies TMLA’s woman of dignity mission,” said Arbitello Pinnock, who will remain in her role as CHSAA girls’ basketball chairperson. 

Since the first tryout, Podlovits has been stressing an approach of giving 110% in everything the girls do, including practice and even stretching. That sort of mentality comes into play when facing adversity late in a game and knowing that you’re fully prepared for the challenge given your preparation. 

The Hilltoppers have spent plenty of time together on the court these first few weeks, yet it’s the experience off the court, even something as simple as a bagel breakfast Podlovits organized after the first full week of practices, that can keep this team together.

“It’s the simplest of things, but it’s important to take the time out off the court because we spend so much time on the court together,” Podlovits said. “It’s so nice to hear what the girls have going on off the court.” 

TMLA has two returning seniors, forwards Jaeda Hall and Maia Charles — both of whom are team captains. They’re excited to see the program transition from Arbitello Pinnock’s guidance into Podlovits’ eager hands. 

“To come back to where you originally played is a big deal because it shows that you love where you came from,” Hall said. “She’s (Podlovits) willing to help and support us in any way.” 

“It shows that she (Podlovits) really wants to help the next generation,” said Charles. “She wanted to come back and help people whose shoes she was once in.” 

As the Hilltoppers prepare for the bulk of their schedule, there will be no easy tests in the competitive Catholic league. Though this is Podlovits’ first foray into coaching a high school varsity sport, she will rely on her familiarity with the league from her playing days to get her off to a strong start. 

Her goals for her first season include her team enjoying a positive experience, growing on and off the court, and sharing in bonding experiences that they’ll remember even more than their playing careers. 

“At the end of the day, it’s one big family,” Podlovits said. “It’s your family away from your real family.” 

That’s especially true for the new coach, as she’s in the midst of the ultimate coming-back-to-your-roots moment.