Muhlenberg girls sure to pick up the pace under new coach Westley Giddens

By Jason Guarente — MikeDragoSports.com senior correspondent

Westley Giddens had an inside source. He knew Muhlenberg was looking for a girls basketball coach before almost everyone else.

Matt Flowers, Muhlenberg’s boys coach, and Giddens were once on the same staff at Reading High. That helped Giddens place his name on top of the pile.

“At first I thought twice about it,” he said. “That lasted maybe an hour. Then my cover letter and resume went out. I’m sure I was the first one to submit my application. I knew it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

Giddens has been approved as Muhlenberg’s new girls coach. He replaces Wes Estock, who stepped down after last season.

There’s no question Giddens paid his dues. He started coaching at the Boys and Girls Club and worked at the freshman and junior high levels with Reading’s boys under coaches Richard Reyes, Tim Redding and Rick Perez.

Giddens spent the past four seasons with Reading’s girls as an assistant under Tanisha Giddens-Beatty and Rashida Suber.

Becoming a varsity coach wasn’t necessarily on his radar until the pandemic arrived and his wife, Aurora, was diagnosed with breast cancer. That changed Giddens’ perspective.

“That kind of opened up my eyes to a lot of different things,” he said. “Even her character and her personality changed to the point where it was like life is one day at a time. If you want something, go get it. She inspired me.”

Giddens was in the running at Wilson before Chris Gallo was hired in 2020. This time he was the No. 1 choice.

Muhlenberg finished 5-17 last season and hasn’t posted a winning record since 2016-17.

The Muhls have some up-and-coming players and the potential to be a sleeping giant.

Ryanna Hightower-Prentice, the daughter of former Reading player Ryan Hightower, is a versatile 6-foot wing who averaged 9.5 points and 7.2 rebounds as a freshman. She’s a future All-Berks selection.

Muhlenberg also returns Peyton Brill, Liberty Stitzman and Kiaraly Colon-Mojica.

Giddens hopes to orchestrate a revival at Laureldale.

“I truly believe,” he said. “With kids buying into the new culture, it’s about breaking through that brick wall. There’s so much potential with the gold and blue.”

Giddens was on Reading High’s boys staff along with Flowers when the Red Knights won their first PIAA championship in 2017. Those coaches, along with Perez, were mentored by the late Brian Ellison.

The goal is to implement the same relentless style that’s synonymous with the Red Knights. Muhlenberg will press and be aggressive. Good defense leads to easy offense. That’s the plan.

“We’re going to get after teams,” Giddens said. “That’s one thing that’s guaranteed for sure. I don’t think these girls know their full athletic potential. I’ve already seen it. I know they can run. I know they can get up and down the floor. We’re not going to hold back. We’re going to stick to our guns.”

Giddens has waited and worked for his chance. The first summer league game was scheduled for this week. The new coach can’t wait to get started.

“If everybody is at workouts and everybody is doing what is expected of them, everybody will have their opportunity to shine,” he said. “My mantra coming into the season is everybody is going to eat. We’re all going to achieve together.”