Saturday, January 30, 2010

FORMER WHITEHALL COACH FACING CONTROVERSY

From Keith Groller

I haven't had a chance to talk to Ron Hassler to get his side of the story, but we've received a report from the North Penn Reporter that a group of African-American parents are upset with the lack of playing time their kids have received on the North Penn boys basketball team this season and complained to the school's principal about Hassler.

Look for the story to break in The Reporter and possibly on Channel 10 news.

I've been told by one of the reporters that "Irate parents met with principal and asked him to make certain all five African-American players started for the rest of the year, and he said no. They [the parents] were talking about boycotting but have decided to go to the school board. "

Hassler began the season, his second as head coach at North Penn with 500 career victories, most of them earned at Whitehall and Central Catholic. The Knights, with a very young team, took an 8-7 record into Friday's game against Souderton.

Like most high school coaches these days, Hassler took his share of criticism, especially in his final seasons at CCHS. But the criticism was generally about style, never about race.

During his 24-year coaching career in the Lehigh Valley, African-American players who played for Hassler included Steve Jones at Whitehall and Danny Hinds and Matt Cohen at CCHS.

The North Penn coaching staff also features Jerry Radocha, who is another former Whitehall coach and a former Eastern Basketball Association pro player with the Allentown Jets, and longtime area basketball coach Bob Gilbert.

More on this story will be coming soon, I am sure.

Source: Keith Groller

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I heard that Steve Jones went to NorthEastern after leaving Whitehall. He was a really good basketball player... A ton of talent & leaping ability. I think that he played well & controlled under Coach Hassler even though Hassler waited until his sr year to really play him. Anywhere else he would have played right away but we liked him alot at WHS

Tony Medina said...

Heard steve played @ northeastern univ then in sweden or overseas for a little bit. You dont hear much or know where he is now but he was really good.