Berks Sports Report Paul Roberts
The coach who led Reading to three state championships is returning to lead the Red Knights. Berks Sports Report has learned that Rick Perez is expected to be approved as Reading’s boys basketball head coach at Wednesday’s school board meeting. Perez has spent the past two seasons as an assistant at Muhlenberg.
Perez guided the Red Knights for twelve years. They captured PIAA titles in 2017, 2021, and 2023. Reading also claimed five District 3 championships and six BCIAA crowns during Perez’s tenure. Perez had a record of (281-74) with the Red Knights. He has the most victories in program history, surpassing Jim Gano’s mark of 251 wins. Lonnie Walker helped Reading earn its first state championship in 2017. The Red Knights defeated Pine-Richland 64-60 in front of 9,531 fans at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Francis Camara served as Reading’s head coach the last two years. The Red Knights finished (13-12) this past season after a (1-6) start. They won seven of their last eight regular season games to qualify for the Berks County playoffs. However, Reading didn’t make it into the District 3-6A tournament for the first time since 2001. Camara, a 2008 Reading graduate, had previously been an assistant coach under Perez. The school district opted to open the position of head coach last month. Camara’s son, Jeremiah, is now attending Berks Catholic. He was the Red Knights’ leading scorer last season at 14 points per game. Perez’s sons, Jadin and Kalib, are on Muhlenberg’s basketball team.
Reading has won more games than any other high school in Pennsylvania history. The Red Knights have piled up 25 Berks County championships and 24 District 3 titles.