It was an eventful offseason in Lancaster-Lebanon League boys basketball. Seven of the 25 teams have changed head coaches.
Let’s take a look at who’s in and who’s out on the sideline.
COLUMBIA
Eljiah Cooper has departed the Crimson Tide after two seasons leading the varsity. Julian Collazo has been given his first chance to run a program.
Collazo, a 1,000-point scorer at Lancaster Mennonite, coached at his alma mater for one season before spending the next five working under Jerry Johnson at La Academia. Columbia won two district titles in the 2020s before struggling the past two winters.
“It’s a small supportive town with a lot of opportunity to make noise in the L-L League,” Collazo said. “We have a group of guys who deserve an opportunity to be a part of a good program.”
GARDEN SPOT
One alumnus has replaced another in New Holland. Marshall Usner has taken the reins from Curtis Waltman. They were teammates at Garden Spot when it won section titles in 1999 and 2000.
Usner has been an assistant under Ryan Trupe and Nate Musselman before working as the ninth grade coach for the past three seasons. He played under coach George Stroup and is a lifetime Spartan.
“I’m most excited to try and put Garden Spot hoops back on the map in the L-L League for our school district, community and more importantly our student-athletes,” Usner said. “It will be a challenge for sure, but I’m excited for the group I have this year and the talent I see coming through the younger groups.”
LAMPETER-STRASBURG
Austin Smucker’s departure one year after replacing Ed Berryman means L-S will have a third head coach in the span of three seasons. The Pioneers hired from within their family when they promoted Neil Koser.
Koser, a Cocalico grad, spent eight seasons with the junior high program at L-S. This will be his first shot to coach the varsity.
“It’s a chance to work with the returning players and build relationships with any new players to the program,” Koser said. “I’m excited to maintain the standards of a school and program that is established while continuing to build upon the strong foundation already in place.”
LEBANON
Kris Uffner saw Lebanon through some difficult times and helped the program regain its footing. The Lebanon alum stepped down after four years and was replaced by Will Bracey.
Bracey is a Lebanon Christian grad who played one season with the Cedars. He spent five seasons as the head coach at North Schuylkill and was an assistant at Shamokin last year.
“Lebanon is home for me,” Bracey said. “It has a special place in my heart. The city watched me grow up. I’m really excited. I feel like I can add some value to the program and get it rolling.”
MANHEIM CENTRAL
Charlie Fisher stepped down after nine seasons spent turning the Barons into a perennial contender. Fisher was replaced by Brady Sipe, a former assistant.
Sipe is in his seventh season in Manheim. The Ephrata grad spent time with the seventh and eighth grade teams before becoming the JV coach.
“I’m excited to fulfill a lifelong dream of being a head coach,” Sipe said. “What really excites me is making a lasting impact on the players. I want to impact the players on the basketball court, in the classroom and at home.”
NORTHERN LEBANON
Scott Attivo has taken over for Franklin Wilson Jr., who was the head coach at Fredericksburg for one season. Northern Lebanon, like L-S, has its third coach in three winters.
Attivo is a former Steelton-Highspire standout who was most recently an assistant at Halifax. He also coached under Brad Conners at Elco.
“This was an offer I couldn’t pass up,” said Attivo, who lives in Lebanon County. “It was just one of those things where the timing of it worked, the location worked and I’m just excited to be part of the NL community.”
ANNVILLE-CLEONA
Brad Karli, a Cedar Crest grad and former assistant at Lebanon Valley College, has taken over for Jason Coletti, who departed Annville after eight seasons.
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