Eastern boys' coach replaced; no explanation from school
Eastern York High School announced assistant coach Mark Wisler as its boys' basketball head coach over the public address system prior to Wednesday night's game against Susquehannock.
That marks the only time the coaching change has been addressed by the school.
Jon Reichard, who has been the program's head coach from 2011 through Eastern's game Monday against Susquehanna Township, was not in the gym during Eastern's last-minute loss to visiting Susquehannock, and attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.
After the game, Wisler would not say if his head coach role is temporary or permanent.
"I'm not at liberty to say," Wisler said. "That's for the administration to comment."
When asked Wednesday if Reichard had been suspended, Eastern York athletic director Don Knaub said he could not comment on personnel matters. Attempts to reach Eastern York Supt. Darla Pianowski were unsuccessful.
In an odd month when Eastern lost its top scorer, Jared Achterberg, to a season-ending knee injury, the Golden Knights entered Wednesday night still tied for first place but now are playing without their head coach.
Reichard called the Eastern York head coaching job his "dream job" when hired in 2011. He went to high school at Eastern and played basketball for the Golden Knights. He began coaching in the district as a 19-year-old when he helped coach the junior high program.
Last year, Eastern York went 22-5 and advanced to the District 3 Class 3A championship game.
This season, after losing their second game of the season to Northeastern — which is ranked No. 1 in the District 3 Class 5A bracket — the Golden Knights won 10 straight games.