Ephrata Oks Treese as New Coach

Ephrata has found its new head boys basketball coach in former Muhlenberg coach Jonathan Treese, who has been approved by the district’s school board.

The move comes just a month after Charlie Fisher resigned from the Ephrata post in order to become the new Manheim Central coach. The quick turnaround by Ephrata likely came about because the 201718 season is less than two months away.

“That was a huge concern with the short timetable that we had,” Ephrata Athletic Director Steve Sweigart said. “We got a number of applicants when we posted the position; we conducted several interviews, I think we found a good candidate.”

Of the several applicants, Sweigart said six were interviewed.

“(Treese) has head coaching experience and he brings a passion for basketball,” Sweigart said. “He was highly involved with the youth program at Muhlenberg. That’s something we’re looking for ... somebody that’s going to be the face of basketball from all levels.”

Treese comes to Ephrata after having coached Muhlenberg the last four seasons, going 17-71 overall before resigning from that job in February. He’ll inherit a Mounts roster that brings back just about everyone from last year’s 16-win team, which reached the Lancaster-Lebanon League and District Three Class 5A tournaments, and thus is expected to be a favorite in L-L Section Two in the coming season.

Sweigart said Treese lives in the Ephrata school district, though he works full-time as the dean of students at Muhlenberg Middle School. According to the background information Treese has listed on his school page online, he is originally from Williamsport and graduated from Lebanon Valley College in 2009.

Treese’s hire fills the last remaining L-L coaching vacancy. Ephrata will be one of five L-L boys programs with a new head coach this season.