Several high school sports teams have coaches taking on new positions in Franklin County for the upcoming winter sports season. Among all sports, there are a total of eight new coaches.
Turners Falls and Franklin Tech enter the season with the same coaches as last year.
David Hastings is now the coach of the Frontier Regional girls basketball team. Previously, Hastings found himself with a whistle at basketball games in the region. Hastings officiated exclusively last year.
“It was like I was convincing myself that officiating was enough to get my basketball fix,” Hastings said. “The more I pondered it in my head, I just said I miss the day-to-day coaching of the game of basketball because I love it. I literally do basketball every day of my life in some way shape or form.”
Hastings spent eight years at Keene State College. During his time with the Owls, Hastings was an assistant coach and an associate head coach. He was the head coach in 2023-2024 after Ryan Cain left for Johns Hopkins. Before that, he coached the Pioneer boys team for 17 years. Hastings’ coaching history is extensive and includes multiple sports going back 33 years.
In Athol, Peter Whitmore is taking over the girls basketball team. Whitmore was an assistant with the Mahar girls basketball team and has coached the Athol boys team in the past.
In Buckland, Fred Redeker will man the sideline for the Mohawk boys basketball team. Redeker was a long-time assistant to Scott Thayer for the Pioneer Valley Regional boys basketball team. Redeker also coached Mohawk from 2010-2017 before heading to Pioneer. Redeker brings 25 years of coaching experience back to Mohawk.
“I learned a lot working with Scotty (Thayer),” Redeker said. “And I worked with John Hickey before that. I’ve worked with some of the best coaches in the area. I did some college in between there. I have a wide variety.”
In Orange, Francis Phillips is now the coach of the Mahar girls basketball team. Phillips is Mahar’s Dean of Students. Before that, he coached at Gardner High School. He takes over for Stephen Bonk.
“I am excited to bring a new wave of energy,” Phillips said. “Bring my own kind of style to things. I’m big on defense. It’s a big thing for me. Playing fast and playing aggressive.”
At Pioneer Valley Regional, there were three coaching changes. Firstly, a former player for the Panthers took over the boys basketball head coaching job in Seth Kratz.
Kratz played with the likes of Adam Harrington, Kris Kachelmeyer, Michael Kachelmeyer and Garrett Tillotson during his high school career with the Panthers. Kratz was the assistant coach of the girls’ team last season. After his high school career, Kratz moved on to play college hoops at the Mass College of Liberal Arts.
“Basketball has always been a passion of mine,” Kratz said. “My kids are finally old enough where I can commit to coaching. I am excited. I know last year was another huge successful year for them. Most of that team has moved on.”
There is still a veteran presence heading into the season for the Panthers.
“I know Pioneer basketball is big in the area,” Kratz said. “It’s always been a great tradition. I am looking forward to it.”
For the girls, Theresa Tsipenyuk is now the head coach for Pioneer.
Paul Hake took over the track and field program for the Panthers. Hake was an assistant for the outdoor track and field team for Pioneer last year. Before that he coached at The Academy at Charlemont and Mount Saint Charles Academy in Rhode Island. He also navigated a running program at the Center School in Greenfield along with some youth soccer. There is a youth movement for his young team this year.
“I am excited because I feel like we are starting fresh,” Hake said. “With a lot of new kids that are excited to try out track. It will be good. It’s because it will be low pressure in a lot of ways. We have kids that have no experience, but I am eager to teach them the different track events.”
For Greenfield, Erich Leaper is now the coach for the boys track and field team.
