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Eyster returns as Northeastern basketball coach


Northeastern's "new" boys' basketball coach will be a familiar face for anybody associated with the Bobcats program. Jon Eyster, who led the program for 16 seasons before stepping down two years ago, was approved once again this week as school's head basketball coach. Eyster had spent the last two seasons as an assistant to former Bobcats coach Don Kauffman, who resigned last month. "It's hard to turn down Northeastern's winningest basketball coach at any level," Northeastern athletic director Bryan Stephens said Saturday. "He's been associated with our program for 20 years, and he has a great reputation as a teacher and coach in our building." Eyster's resume includes a 219-181 career record. He took over as Northeastern's coach before the 1993-94, and stepped down in favor of an assistant's role following the 2008-09 campaign. At the very least, continuity shouldn't be a problem for a Bobcats team loaded with promise for next season. Northeastern returns a trio of promising guards -- seniors Elijah Cooper and Chris Nwandu, along with junior Khalid Nwandu -- from a team that went 18-9 and qualified for the PIAA Class AAA playoffs. Northeastern also filled another coaching vacancy this week, hiring longtime assistant Joe Sinkovitz as its girls' basketball coach. Sinkovitz has been involved in Northeastern's girls' and boys' basketball programs for 15 seasons, Stephens said, and spent the last several of those as an assistant to former Bobcats girls' coach Mike Drenchko. Drenchko stepped down following this season, having managed a 95-81 record in seven seasons as the Bobcats' coach.