The girls basketball summer schedule is in full swing, and a new face will be overseeing all their activities during the offseason as they gear up for the 2018-19 campaign.

Josh Madas was recently named as the new girls head basketball coach at Whitehall. He succeeds Dwight Repsher who guided the program the last five seasons.

Madas attended Mountain View Jr./Sr. High School in Kingsley, PA, graduating in 2007. As a member of the Eagles, he competed in soccer, basketball and baseball. He later attended Lock Haven University where he received his degree in 2012. Madas said he spent two years with the baseball program while enrolled at Lock Haven.

Once he ended his playing career, Madas said that he immediately transitioned into coaching. One of those stops was as a coach at Push The Rock, where his involvement with the organization stoked his desire to mentor and teach kids.

“I kind of found my passion for coaching there,” said Madas.

While Push The Rock gave him practical experience, his coaching philosophy was also shaped by what successful coaches shared, most notably Dean Smith and his book “The Carolina Way: Leadership Lessons From a Life in Coaching.”

“For me, it’s always been that players are more important than the game,” said Madas.

Madas said that he wants to apply a lot of what Smith discussed, starting with his ability to relate to his players.

“That’s something that I want to carry with me,” said Madas.

He said that he’s found that to be a good experience, incorporating that aspect of accessibility and communication into his role as a coach. He’s been able to incorporate that at his stops as a head girls basketball coach at Lehigh Valley Christian School, and as an assistant at Emmaus where he worked with Kelsey Gallagher and Carl Scheitrum on the Hornets’ coaching staff.

Madas said that he jumped in quickly this summer, starting with the Patti Heffner Summer Classic at Parkland which began within four days of meeting the players for the first time.

He said that they went 3-2 at the annual tournament, and that experience gave him a good feeling about the players and what they were able to achieve.

“I was actually pretty happy with that,” said Madas.

They’re also playing in the Allentown Central Catholic Summer League, and will play Pleasant Valley this Thursday in the annual Bash at the Beach, celebrating the opening night of the Cedar Beach Basketball Showcase at Cedar Beach Park in Allentown.

Madas was exposed to the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference while coaching at Emmaus and recognizes it’s a very tough league. He said that he’s confident they’ll be ready to compete every time they step onto the court.

“I truly believe we have the players for us to be successful,” said Madas.

He said that he wants the girls to be successful, and not just for this season, but for years to come. He calls that “sustainability.”

Madas said that it’s his job, along with the coaching staff, to make sure they meet everyone’s needs to ensure that they’re staying on track as they move through the program at Whitehall. That work will then culminate in a successful, sustainable program.