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COACHES

At Narrow Valley Sports, our coaches are driven by their love for the game and their commitment to bettering our community.

Jada Schellhammer
Softball, Fitness

Jada Schellhammer, Tamaqua, is a 2019 graduate of Tamaqua High School, where she was a two-time All-State selection in her four years starting on the varsity team. She is a recent graduate from Lock Haven University, where she was a five year member of the Lock Haven University softball team. She graduated with a major in Health and Physical Education and a minor in Coaching, and has worked many camps and clinics for young and upcoming athletes of all ages. She has also given private pitching lessons and volunteer coached at various camps in the area. 

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Julian Rickert
Baseball

Julian Rickert is excited to be one of the baseball coaches at Narrow Valley Sportsplex. He is a former graduate of Marian Catholic High school where he was a 3 year starter and team captain senior year. After Marian, he attended King’s College to study business management, in which he is in his senior year of. Rickert spent his first two years as a player on the Monarchs baseball team. After battling injuries, he began his coaching career at King’s in the fall of 2023. He is entering his second season of coaching at the collegiate level. As of August 2024, he is the Assistant Director of Baseball Operations and Recruiting for the Monarchs. 

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Gabe Herschman
Strength & Conditioning

abe Herschman is a nationally ranked powerlifter with over 25 competition experiences, highlighted by a 5th place finish at the Junior National Powerlifting Championships in Austin, Texas, in May 2024. With more than seven years of dedicated training in powerlifting and five years of coaching experience, Gabe has worked with both Division II and Division I athletes at Bloomsburg University, where he is pursuing a degree in Exercise Science.

His fitness journey is underscored by a remarkable transformation, having lost over 100 pounds while achieving an impressive powerlifting total of 1,550 pounds across the "Big Three" lifts: a 585-pound squat, a 400-pound bench press, and a 585-pound deadlift. Specializing in strength and conditioning, Gabe focuses on periodization and programming tailored to individual needs.

As he continues to enhance his expertise, Gabe aims to complete his bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and obtain his Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification in 2025. Committed to staying at the forefront of scientifically backed training methods, he actively engages with the latest research, reading journal articles and books, and participating in studies that emphasize safety and results for individuals of all experience levels, ages, and genders.

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Chris Geiser
Soccer

Chris Geiser, President and founder of Right To Dream, is a distinguished member of the Narrow Valley Sportsplex coaching staff. With roles ranging from Army Youth soccer coach to President and coach of Carbon United, Chris has shown exceptional leadership and dedication to soccer. As a coach and club director at Keystone Athletics and a goalkeeper trainer with Dominate the 18 GK, he has developed and refined the skills of numerous athletes. His experience includes serving as assistant coach for the Jim Thorpe High School boys' team and head coach for the girls' team. At Right To Dream, Chris is a key trainer and instructor, and he also offers private instruction, demonstrating his commitment to nurturing soccer talent and fostering community growth.

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Hardy Pinto
Soccer

Hardy Pinto brings a wealth of international playing experience to Narrow Valley Sportsplex. His impressive career spans across various countries and leagues, showcasing his versatility and dedication to the sport. Hardy has played for notable clubs including Barreirense in Portugal, Beziers FC 34 in France, Lingsbury London Tigers and Winsgate & Finchley in the UK, Orihuela 2B in Spain, Arvika in Sweden, Doxa Monia, Omonia Aradipou, and Kouklia in Cyprus, Al Taawoon in Dubai, and Mohammedan SC in Bangladesh. His diverse experience across these clubs and countries has not only honed his skills on the field but also enriched his understanding of different playing styles and cultures. This global perspective allows him to bring unique insights and training techniques to his coaching, making him an invaluable asset to our team and the community. Additionally, he is the founder of Pinto Soccer Development. At Narrow Valley Sportsplex, Hardy is committed to using his passion for soccer to inspire and develop the next generation of athletes.

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Patrik Roche
Soccer

Patrick Roche is the owner of Soccer Education and Training w/Patrik, which was established in 2013. Born and raised in Ireland, Patrick developed knowledge and skills in soccer from an early age and became his local club’s youngest player at the senior level. He eventually played in the Premier division in his hometown of Waterford. He moved to Dublin in 1991, playing in Division 1 until 1996, when he "hung up his boots" to concentrate on youth coaching. At that time, he received training in Sports Psychology and Sports Therapy (Ki massage). Moving to the Lehigh Valley in 2013, Patrick began coaching players and coaches in Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties. He also developed a mentorship program to help young players develop confidence and leadership skills. He still graces the field with the Over 50s in Allentown, but his greatest reward now is helping young players develop the skills to become good athletes and better human beings. Patrick's mission is to infuse increased rigor and expectation in soccer training, challenging players to be their best and sparking a lifelong passion for soccer.

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Ed Kocha
Basketball

Ed Kocha, a graduate of Kutztown University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in English - Secondary Education, has been a reading teacher at Panther Valley School District since 2010. Currently, he serves as the Jr. 76ers Basketball Camp Director and Division Coordinator and previously coached at the Jr. 76ers Basketball Camp in 2021. He is the Head Coach of In The Zone Basketball Club’s AAU 13u, 14u, and 15u Platinum Team and is also the Assistant Girls’ Basketball Coach at Panther Valley. His previous experience includes coaching high school boys and girls basketball at Lehighton High School, an assistant football coach at Jim Thorpe High School, and volunteering as an assistant track coach at Marian Catholic High School. Additionally, he has coached for the Panther Valley Youth Basketball Association, Panther Valley Knee-Hi Association, and Anthracite Little League.

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Fritz Herling
Basketball

Fritz Herling hails from White Haven, Pennsylvania, and is a graduate of Weatherly Area High School ('01). During his high school years, Fritz excelled in multiple sports. In soccer, he was a 4-year starter, team captain, and earned 1st Team Schuylkill League Defense honors in. In basketball, he was a 2-year starter, a 4-year player, a 3-time letter winner, and team captain. Fritz also played baseball for one year, served as team captain. He attended East Stroudsburg University, where he studied Health and Physical Education and gained 16 years of teaching experience. He also participated in intramural basketball and softball for 4 years. In coaching, Fritz has 14 years of basketball coaching experience at the 7th-12th grade levels in Philadelphia, Weatherly, Hazleton, and Panther Valley School Districts. He also has 2 years of soccer coaching experience at the junior high level in the Weatherly School District and 1 year of high school softball coaching experience at Panther Valley School District. Currently, he is a Health and Physical Education teacher and Girls Softball Assistant Coach at PVJSHS and will be assisting with basketball programs.

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Pat Crampsie
Basketball

Coach Crampsie has been the head coach at Panther Valley HS for the past 22 years and has the most wins in Panther Valley Boys Basketball history.  His Panthers have appeared in two District Championships, winning gold in 2020.  In this same year, his Panther Valley team advanced to the state quarterfinals which resulted in Coach Crampsie being named the 2020 National Federation of HS Sports Pennsylvania Boys Basketball Coach of the Year. In 2018 his team won the Div 3 Schuylkill League.  Under his tutelage, the Panthers have qualified for district playoffs for 7 straight years.  In addition, he has run a highly successful youth basketball camp and a High School Summer League for the last 20 years.  Coach Crampsie graduated from Panther Valley HS in 1994 and Moravian University in 1998.

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Jason McElmoyle
Basketball

Jason McElmoyle brings nearly two decades of high school coaching experience to the table, along with a decade of coordinating basketball camps and clinics. With 23 years as an educator, Jason’s extensive background in both teaching and coaching equips him with the skills and insight to develop young athletes both on and off the court.

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Ed Wise
Basketball

Coach Eddie Wise is a graduate of Tamaqua Area HS & Bloomsburg University. His teams qualified for & won District II play-off games with 4 different high schools and he coached nine 1000 point scorers. Coach has garnered coach- of -the year awards 6 times.He has the highest winning percentage of any boy’s basketball coach in TAHS history & his 1982-83 team won the D-11 & Eastern State Championship with a record of 31-3. He has been inducted as a coach into the Tamaqua Area H S Sports Hall of fame, along with the Carbon/Schuylkill chapter of the PA Sports Hall of fame.Coach Wise has also implemented & directed youth basketball camps( grades 3-8)  in association with head coaching jobs at Tamaqua, Bethlehem Freedom, & Lehighton area High Schools, along with individual player sessions. The fundamentals of all aspects of the game of basketball, along with stressing hard work & a positive attitude are stressed. He has been a PIAA District 11,4 & 2 Varsity basketball official for the last 10 years & has worked D-11 & Colonial league play- off games. Ed resides in Nesquehoning with his wife, Dana & has 2 adult daughters.

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Lyn Paluck
Pickleball

Lyn Paluck, a resident of Lake Hauto, is a graduate of Panther Valley High School and Lehigh County Community College, where she earned a degree in Applied Science as a Physical Therapy Assistant. With over 40 years of experience as a PTA focusing on fitness and sports rehabilitation, she has also been a certified fitness instructor teaching various classes in the area for over 30 years. Lyn discovered Pickleball five years ago and has been an enthusiastic player ever since, founding the Lake Hauto Pickleball Club and teaching the sport to community members. She recently taught beginner classes at the Perla Building in Tamaqua. Lyn is excited to join Narrow Valley Sports and lead the Pickleball program, eager to meet new people and share her passion for the sport.

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Diahann Ouly
Pickleball

Diahann is a 1985 graduate of Panther Valley HS. She attended Shippensburg University as an education major and went on to earn a graduate degree in educational technology from DeSales University. She spent the first 9 years of her career teaching in the Panther Valley School District. The remaining years were spent at the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit providing all types of training and instruction to educators and administrators in Carbon and Lehigh counties until her retirement in 2023. Diahann stays in the education loop by continuing to teach graduate school for Muhlenberg College.

After dedicating over 30 years to nurturing young minds and adults alike, Diahann has embarked on a new journey in retirement, discovering a passion for Pickleball. She is known for her patience, enthusiasm, and knack for teaching. Because of this she now aims to share the joy of this exciting sport with the community. She brings her extensive teaching experience to the Pickleball court, inspiring new players to develop their skills and embrace the fun and camaraderie that Pickleball offers.

In addition to teaching the fundamentals of Pickleball to the community, Diahann is committed to promoting health and wellness. By encouraging people of all ages to stay active and engaged, she wants to help individuals maintain physical fitness and enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle. Whether on the court or in the classroom, Diahann strives to make a positive impact, fostering a love for learning and movement in every generation.

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Brandon Pugh
Running

Brandon Pugh, a Weatherly native and 1997 Weatherly Area High School graduate, excelled in cross-country, track/field, and basketball, earning four Schuylkill League all-star titles and the top male scholar athlete award. He continued his athletic career at Luzerne County Community College, where he was an all-conference cross-country runner, and later earned a BS in Elementary/Special Education from Kutztown University. With 22 years as a special education teacher and 11 years coaching various sports, Brandon has also led the Weatherly Little League and founded the Weatherly Youth Soccer League. At Narrow Valley Sports, he will instruct and coach running, including strength, speed, agility, and track/cross-country training. Brandon looks forward to helping athletes of all levels grow and improve, emphasizing positivity, motivation, and personal development.

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