Jeff Lang-Gov. Mifflin

Stepping down as the head football coach at Gov. Mifflin was a difficult decision for Jeff Lang, but one that he had to make. “I’ve been doing this since I’m ten years old. All I’ve ever known for the last 44 years is football,” he said. Lang is putting his family ahead of the sport. He plans on retiring as a science teacher and Dean of Students after the school year and moving to Lehighton. His wife’s family business is there. Lang will help to maintain and manage an 80-unit campground on a very large piece of land. The Shaler High School graduate has been part of the Mustangs’ coaching staff for 32 years. He started 41 consecutive games at guard for Slippery Rock. As a senior, Lang was named a second team All-American. After spending one season as an assistant at Shaler, he made the trip across the state to Shillington. Lang formed a tight bond with Mick Vecchio who won a school record 181 games over 26 years. Vecchio and Lang are both members of the Berks County Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Lang guided Gov. Mifflin to its first District 3 championship in 2020. The Mustangs set a county record that season by averaging 54.5 points per game. They got tripped up by Pine-Richland 48-44 in the state semifinals. In 2021, Gov. Mifflin went (10-1) and finished as the runner-up to Exeter in the District 3-5A playoffs. Mustangs’ star running back Nick Singleton was selected as the Gatorade National Offensive Player of the Year. Lang knew that Singleton was a special talent at an early age. “Kids would be out playing games or screwing around, he was working out and running hills. He trained for where he’s at right now,” emphasized Lang. Before heading to Penn State, Singleton established Berks County career records with 6,326 rushing yards and 116 touchdowns. Lang saw another special talent and future Nittany Lions’ standout in 2017. Gov. Mifflin upset Micah Parsons and the Harrisburg Cougars 26-14 in the District 3-5A semifinals. Harrisburg was (11-0) with nine victories by mercy rule entering that memorable matchup. The Cougars were averaging 50 points and ranked #1 in the state at the time. Lang was the offensive line coach for Vecchio that season. In seven years as the Mustangs’ head coach, Lang was (51-26). They went (5-6) this fall and lost to Pleasant Valley 28-19 in the Eastern Conference 5A/6A championship. Lang hopes the next head coach will continue to pound the rock on offense. “Our mentality is to grind it out, move the sticks, control the line of scrimmage, and control the game clock. I still think that’s what high school football is about,” he said.