Whitehall’s search for a girls soccer coach lasted a month and the Zephyrs have added another stellar coach to the girls program with the appointment of former Parkland and Southern Lehigh boss, Chris Bleam, on Monday evening.

Bleam takes over for Dave Weitzman, who resigned in late April after two seasons with the program, taking home a 34-11 record in those two seasons, while playing in back-to-back District 11 3A championship games. The team won the district title in 2014.

Bleam is someone that has plenty of experience winning and taking home championships. He has 561 wins under his belt coaching boys and girls soccer programs at Parkland and the Southern Lehigh boys.

He was 202-44-9 in 11 seasons coaching the girls program at Parkland (1993-2002, 2006), including five conference and seven District 11 championships.

He has coached 16 District 11 championship teams and 12 league championship teams throughout his career. He has been named league coach of the year 14 times in his career. He was named both the Large School PSHSCA and NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year in 2009.

“We are very excited to name Chris Bleam as our next head coach in girls’ soccer,” said Whitehall athletic director Bob Hartman. “Chris brings unbelievable credentials and experience to the table.

“Beyond that, as a career teacher, he brings an outstanding teaching foundation with him to help provide our female soccer student-athletes with maximum growth potential. We are pleased that our program attracts high quality coaches such as coach Bleam. It is a testament to the previous efforts and foundation set by coaches [George] Romano and Weitzman and the many girls’ soccer players who played for them. The past six seasons of Whitehall girls’ soccer have been very exciting. We look forward to those seasons continuing under the mentorship of coach Bleam.”

Bleam hasn’t coached since the 2010 season with the Parkland boys and feels the time was right to jump back into the daily high school coaching mix.

“I chose to step away to spend more time with my young children,” said Bleam of his time off coaching varsity soccer. “During my time away from high school, I have remained involved with the game at the club and ODP level. Soccer is something I have always loved and coaching is something I intend to be part of my life going forward. As my children have grown to become successful independent young women, I feel comfortable returning to the high school coaching environment. I have discussed this at length with my family and I appreciate the support they have offered.”

Applying for the Whitehall position came a year earlier than Bleam had expected, in regards to getting back into the high school scene, but felt it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

“Whitehall is located in close proximity to Parkland High School where I continue to teach Health and Physical Education to great kids,” he said. “Whitehall kids are similar to those at Parkland in many ways and I have always had great respect for the competitive desire demonstrated by the student athletes at Whitehall. I also have a great deal of respect for Bob Hartman and look forward to working with him to continue the great tradition established by past Whitehall girls soccer players and coaches.

“I do not know a whole lot about the individuals who comprise the Whitehall girls soccer program although I do know several of the younger players and incoming freshmen from my club involvement in the past several years.

“My first order of business is to get to know the young women who are in the program and develop a plan to help them achieve their goals both on and off the soccer field. I look forward to and embrace the challenge and hope to be able to support the players as they strive to represent their school and community with dignity, sportsmanship and a commitment to excellence on the field and in the classroom.”