Jeff VanGorder-Exeter

Don’t expect the Exeter boys basketball team to be walking the ball up the court this season. “We’re definitely gonna be more of a push the pace type team which I’m excited about…My hope is that we’re playing closer to the 80s than we are the 40s,” said head coach Jeff VanGorder. The Cortland, New York native was approved as the Eagles’ new coach in July. He’s been an assistant at the Division III level for a dozen years. VanGorder takes over for Matt Ashcroft who stepped down after four seasons with a record of (56-45). Exeter went (27-7) a season ago and won its first District 3 championship. The Eagles reached the state finals for just the second time. They return two starters in Kevin Saenz and Reece Garvin who were all-division picks. “They’ve been great. I’ve been more impressed with what they’ve done off the floor than on the floor. They’ve been very vocal in the offseason,” noted VanGorder. Although he has a lot of experience in college basketball, VanGorder enjoys the high school game. “It’s more fun…Fundamentals get lost by the time some guys get to the college level so it’s fun for me to teach all that again,” replied Van Gorder. He spent last season on the staff at Muhlenberg College. Prior to that, VanGorder was an assistant coach at Ursinus for four years and Carnegie Mellon for three seasons. He stayed close to home after high school and graduated from SUNY Cortland in 2010. VanGorder began his coaching career as an assistant at Hamilton College where he spent four years. His nieces and nephews attend the Exeter School District so he’s familiar with Reiffton. The Eagles open the season on Friday at 8:30pm against Archbishop Carroll. Exeter is the site of the COBL Winter Showcase which includes twelve teams and eight varsity games over two days. The Eagles take on Perkiomen Valley at 6pm on Saturday.