HS Basketball: Minersville hires George as head boys’ basketball coach

Chris George was hired Wednesday as the new boys' basketball coach at Minersville (Photo by Lebanon Daily News).

MINERSVILLE — Chris George is back in the Schuylkill League.

The 50-year-old former Pine Grove girls’ basketball coach was hired Wednesday night as the new boys’ basketball coach at Minersville.

George was the head boys’ coach the past 10 seasons at Northern Lebanon. He takes over for Dave Mullaney, who stepped down in March after three seasons guiding the Miners.

“I’m just really excited to be back up here,” George said via email Thursday night. “I know many of the coaches in this league, and a lot of the refs and ADs as well. It’s gonna be a really cool experience to come back and see so many friendly faces.

“When I took over at PGA 15 years ago, I‘d been teaching there as well, but I will say, this area really does a great job of welcoming new blood. Friendly and willing to chat you up. Should be a lot of fun! Excited to get to work!”

George becomes the fourth new Schuylkill League Division I boys’ basketball coach for next season, joining Anthony Agosti (North Schuylkill), John Rizzo (Pine Grove) and Tyler Heffner (Pottsville). Nativity’s head coaching position remains vacant, with the Hilltoppers expected to name a new coach early next week.

A 1993 Lebanon Catholic graduate, George helped the Beavers reach the District 3 Class A title game as a senior, falling to Scotland School. Lebanon Catholic lost in the first round of the PIAA playoffs that season to Lourdes.

George was an assistant boys’ basketball coach at ELCO from 1996-2009 and was also an assistant football coach at both ELCO and Northern Lebanon.

George took over for Pam Ryan as the Pine Grove girls’ basketball coach in 2010 and guided the Cardinals to an 89-39 record over five seasons, winning District 11 Class AA titles in 2011 and 2012. He took Pine Grove to the Schuylkill League playoffs three times in that span, beating Tri-Valley 52-45 for the 2013 Schuylkill League crown.

A business/computers teacher, George left Pine Grove to return to coaching boys’ basketball in 2015, taking the head coaching position at Northern Lebanon.

His 2015-16 squad won a Lancaster-Lebanon League division title and his 2017-18 club won 17 games, the most victories Northern Lebanon had in one season in 25 years. He earned Lancaster-Lebanon Coach of the Year honors that season.

George’s interest in returning to Schuylkill County was fueled by seeing Schuylkill League teams North Schuylkill, Minersville and Pottsville compete in a summer league held annually in Lebanon County.

When the head coaching positions opened at all three of those schools, George decided it was time to move on.

“The summer league we started down in Lebanon County had many Schuylkill League teams the past couple of years,” George said. “So, seeing the kids from North Schuylkill, Minersville and Pottsville, I had a great chance to get an up-close glimpse into each program. After the season I got excited when I saw some of those jobs open.

“Obviously, all those coaches did great things the past few years and are great coaches in their own right, but knowing District 11, and the league itself, it just seemed like an awesome opportunity to get back up here.”

George teaches at Northern Lebanon High School and resides in Lebanon County, although he’s contemplating a move to the Minersville area. His two sons were both three-sport standouts at ELCO, with Ty being a wide receiver on Lebanon Valley College’s 2014 football title team and Dallas currently playing basketball at McDaniel College in Maryland.

Over his 15 years as a head varsity basketball coach, George said it’s the relationships he’s built and the people he’s met that have been fulfilling, and he hopes to continue to build relationships at his new school.

“The longer you coach, the more you realize the wins and losses, titles, rules, X and O’s etc. are not nearly as important as the relationships,” George said. “I’ve made so many great friends and colleagues at all these stops. Some great parents, and soooo many players. I still Facebook message with players from 15-20 years ago or text as well.

“As we all age, I think that appreciating the good things in your program and your life are super important. It’s a tough world, and coaching high school sports can be a tough business. We should value the chances we get to go through all these experiences, the ups and downs, and the students we get to impact.”

Minersville went 53-22 in three seasons under Mullaney, reaching the PIAA playoffs twice. The Miners were 22-6 overall this past season, 12-2 in Schuylkill League Division I, finishing as league and District 11 Class 3A runners-up before falling to Warrior Run 49-48 in the opening round of the PIAA Class 3A playoffs.

The Miners return a strong squad for 2025-26, led by returning starters Shazier Bethea and Dante Carr and athletic forward Jordan Bowers.

“We’re obviously really excited about this current group,” George said. “We know the expectations are high, but every year is a new one. We lost several seniors that were huge contributors last year — (Logan) Hutsko, (Dawsyn) Manning, (Brad) Kostishak, (A.J.) Halford.

“We have a bunch of young talent we’re hoping to fill those voids, but that will be the main challenge of our offseason and preseason, trying to get them ready for much bigger roles. Obviously leagues, districts and another state playoff appearance is on our list of goals. But for now, just getting better every day individually and as a team is the most important.

“Seniors Shazier and Dante will obviously be huge pieces for us, but this year for sure, their leadership is really going to be much more important with a new staff and team.  We’re going to lean on them in many ways. We are working to bring back many of the coaches from last year’s team to ease the transition as well.”