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