Hamburg seeking boys basketball coach after 2nd resignation in a month

Less than three weeks before the start of practice Hamburg is again without a boys basketball coach.

Mike Donley, approved by the school board last week, has had a change of heart and resigned from the position.

He was hired to replace Nick Evangelista, who resigned earlier in October.

Donley was approved by the school board Oct. 25 and had been making plans for the season and working with players before withdrawing due to what he called “internal pressures.”

“We had a great week of workouts, the guys were excited about basketball again,” Donley said in a statement released to MikeDragoSport.com. “But I was questioned daily on what I was doing.

“I felt there was no trust in my approach. These internal pressures behind the scenes – coach, parent, philosophy – were constant. It was all-consuming and became too much.”

Official practice begins Nov. 18; Hamburg has a tip-off tournament scheduled for Friday, Dec. 2, the opening night of the season across the state.

Donley, who teaches at Tilden Elementary in the Hamburg school district, has coached middle school boys basketball in the Hamburg district and coached the Hawks’ girls basketball team for six seasons, from 2003-09, with a record of 74-70. He was also girls head coach at Schuylkill Haven for 10 years.

Evangelista, a Hamburg grad, coached the Hawks for four seasons. Hamburg went 5-17 last season and finished fourth in Section 3 of the Berks Conference with a 2-9 record.

Hamburg hasn’t had a winning basketball season since 1999-2000.

“I really believe, if guided properly, this year’s group could have some success,” Donley said in his statement. “I conveyed that to the (players). I helped coach these seniors when they were undefeated in eighth grade. That’s why (it) was so intriguing to work with this group.”

Hamburg athletic director Aaron Menapace is actively in communication with other coaching candidates and hopes to have one approved at the Nov. 14 school board meeting.

“I’m disappointed that it ended the way it ended,” Menapace said on Donley’s resignation, “it shouldn’t have. We’ll pick up the pieces and move on.”

In the statement, Donley thanked Menapace and the Hamburg administration for their support.

Evangelista is hoping to continue as the Hawks head baseball coach, according to Menapace. That decision, Menapace said, will not be made until early next year.

Evangelista has coached the baseball team since 2010 and won a District 3 championship in 2016.

He also coaches Hamburg’s baseball team in the Berks-Schuylkill Legion League.