Entering his 21st year as head coach for Pennridge High School men’s basketball team, Coach Dean Behrens has hopes for another successful year.  “We have a good season to match from last year,” Coach Behrens responded about the current season. “We don’t have a cake schedule,” Behrens responded in all honesty when asked about the teams that they would be facing during the 2018-19 season.  The Rams will face off against quality contenders of the Suburban One Continental Conference and potential forces such as Abington, Scranton Prep, Reading, Plymouth Whitemarsh, and others.  Among the Rams schedule is CB West. The Bucks clinched the conference title last season (23-8, 10-2 SOL Continental) whereas the Rams trailed close behind and took second in the conference (19-9, 9-3 SOL Continental).  The Pennridge team made a state appearance but fell to Roman Catholic in the first round of play. Behrens is looking to have a similar goals for the upcoming season with hopes of winning a division title with his team, gaining a spot for the district playoffs, and eventually competing in the state tournament once again.

Since the beginning of his coaching career at Pennridge, Behrens and his players have secured four division championships, the first time in program history during the 2011 season.

Behrens included that his players are willing to work hard for not only for their coach, but for the other players on the team and the sake of the program.  The young team is lead by example from a committed group of seniors who provides great influence on the underclassmen. “I expect them to help young players out. I expect them to help younger guys to get through drills.”  He addressed that all the seniors work well with the underclassmen and fulfills his expectations, especially since other school programs aren’t as fortunate enough to have freshman teams where the upperclassmen can help guide them.  He really feel that this creates a family aspect to the program. Behrens looks for the Freshman and Junior Varsity players to be exposed to the same drills during practices so that it will hopefully prepare them to play at the Varsity level.  He highlighted his players commitment to the program through their determination. Behrens included his players are always competing in practice. He also mentioned that he often finds players staying behind to shoot around, standing behind his claim that “there is always something you can improve upon.”

Behrens looks to add the 2018-2019 season as another accomplishment on his list during his career as a basketball coach at Pennridge High School.  While he does plan on coaching next year, nothing is ever set in stone. Therefore, he will continue to cherish the moments that he has while working with his players and continuing to coach every season like its his last.