Several high school sports teams have coaches taking over new positions in Franklin County for the upcoming winter sports season. Among all sports, there are a complete of eight new coaches.
Turners Falls and Franklin Tech enter the season with the identical coaches as final 12 months.
David Hastings is now the coach of the Frontier Regional women basketball crew. Previously, Hastings discovered himself with a whistle at basketball video games in the area. Hastings officiated solely final 12 months.
“It was like I was convincing myself that officiating was enough to get my basketball fix,” Hastings stated. “The more I pondered it in my head, I just said I miss the day-to-day coaching of the game of basketball because I love it. I literally do basketball every day of my life in some way shape or form.”
Hastings spent eight years at Keene State College. During his time with the Owls, Hastings was an assistant coach and an affiliate head coach. He was the top coach in 2023-2024 after Ryan Cain left for Johns Hopkins. Before that, he coached the Pioneer boys crew for 17 years. Hastings’ teaching historical past is intensive and contains a number of sports going again 33 years.
In Athol, Peter Whitmore is taking up the ladies basketball crew. Whitmore was an assistant with the Mahar women basketball crew and has coached the Athol boys crew in the previous.
In Buckland, Fred Redeker will man the sideline for the Mohawk boys basketball crew. Redeker was a long-time assistant to Scott Thayer for the Pioneer Valley Regional boys basketball crew. Redeker additionally coached Mohawk from 2010-2017 earlier than heading to Pioneer. Redeker brings 25 years of teaching expertise again to Mohawk.
“I learned a lot working with Scotty (Thayer),” Redeker stated. “And I worked with John Hickey before that. I’ve worked with some of the best coaches in the area. I did some college in between there. I have a wide variety.”
In Orange, Francis Phillips is now the coach of the Mahar women basketball crew. Phillips is Mahar’s Dean of Students. Before that, he coached at Gardner High School. He takes over for Stephen Bonk.
“I am excited to bring a new wave of energy,” Phillips stated. “Bring my own kind of style to things. I’m big on defense. It’s a big thing for me. Playing fast and playing aggressive.”
At Pioneer Valley Regional, there have been three teaching modifications. Firstly, a former participant for the Panthers took over the boys basketball head teaching job in Seth Kratz.
Kratz performed with the likes of Adam Harrington, Kris Kachelmeyer, Michael Kachelmeyer and Garrett Tillotson throughout his high school profession with the Panthers. Kratz was the assistant coach of the ladies’ crew final season. After his high school profession, Kratz moved on to play school hoops on the Mass College of Liberal Arts.
“Basketball has always been a passion of mine,” Kratz stated. “My kids are finally old enough where I can commit to coaching. I am excited. I know last year was another huge successful year for them. Most of that team has moved on.”
There remains to be a veteran presence heading into the season for the Panthers.
“I know Pioneer basketball is big in the area,” Kratz stated. “It’s always been a great tradition. I am looking forward to it.”
For the ladies, Theresa Tsipenyuk is now the top coach for Pioneer.
Paul Hake took over the observe and subject program for the Panthers. Hake was an assistant for the outside observe and subject crew for Pioneer final 12 months. Before that he coached at The Academy at Charlemont and Mount Saint Charles Academy in Rhode Island. He additionally navigated a working program on the Center School in Greenfield together with some youth soccer. There is a youth motion for his younger crew this 12 months.
“I am excited because I feel like we are starting fresh,” Hake stated. “With a lot of new kids that are excited to try out track. It will be good. It’s because it will be low pressure in a lot of ways. We have kids that have no experience, but I am eager to teach them the different track events.”
For Greenfield, Erich Leaper is now the coach for the boys observe and subject crew.