Whitehall head boys’ basketball coach Jeff Jones and assistant Corey Frantz seemed destined to be coaching together one day.

It all innocently began with Jones as then Northern Lehigh JV coach, and Frantz being a member of his team.

“I played basketball in high school for Northern Lehigh and always loved it,” recalled Frantz. “Coincidentally, Jeff Jones’s first year of coaching high school basketball was when I was a ninth grader playing JV basketball at Northern Lehigh.”

Now, 19 years later, the duo has been guiding the Zephyrs inside and outside the classroom.

Whitehall (11-12) will begin district play next week in the Class 6A bracket after they were eliminated by Northampton in the opening round of the East Penn Conference tournament.

Jones has valued his every season with Frantz.

“Corey has been my ‘right hand man’ since I became the head coach 19 years ago,” beamed Jones. “He does a great job with the X’s and O’s, but his most valuable quality may be how he relates to the players. He’s always checking in with guys to see where their heads are each day.”

Their time together has molded a bond of trust and familiarity.

“We have been together so long that most of the time we are on the same page,” added Jones. “However, if he doesn’t agree with me, he’s willing to voice his opinion to me. That’s what you want in your assistants. He’s a terrific coach on the court and an even better teacher in the classroom. I’m very proud to have him as a great friend and on my staff for all of these years.”

Frantz accepted an English teaching position at Whitehall for the 1997-98 school year. A Whitehall coaching legend began him on his coaching trail.

“After I got my teaching job, former Whitehall Coach Dick Tracy contacted me, and told me there was a freshman boys’ basketball position available,” remembered Frantz. “He spoke to then-head coach, Jerry Radocha, who I met with a few days later. Jerry offered me the position.

“I did think I would eventually get into coaching as a teacher, and I felt extremely fortunate to get the freshman job my first year.

“I was close with coach Tracy since I was in high school, so he was someone I really respected and tried to learn from.”

Despite a seemingly evolving game with the three-point shot, Frantz hasn’t seen an overhaul in the game. Instead, he has seen his share of changes off the court as well as developing relationships.

“I don’t think it’s changed too much,” stated Frantz about the game. “I feel like we do more teaching of life lessons and how to be better students and humans than we had in the past.

“One other change is the amount of time we, as coaches, invest into our teams now is greater than it was in the past. There are tournaments and leagues running during seasons other than winter that our players participate in and we coach. Open gyms are also in the fall, spring, and summer.”

Through his 28 years of coaching - five years as freshman coach, five years as JV coach, and 18 as varsity assistant - Frantz has had his share of memorable games, but more importantly, working with players.

“I don’t necessarily have favorite years, teams, or games,” reflected Frantz. “I do really cherish the players though. I’m most appreciative of the relationships I’ve been able to have with players while I coach them and as adults. That’s the most rewarding part.”

With the ever-demanding aspects of coaching, Frantz doesn’t see his schedule slowing down, notably in the classroom.

“Every year is different,” emphasized Frantz. “Every player is different. Every season is different. One thing I’ve learned is that the teams who have had success aren’t necessarily the most rewarding teams I’ve been associated with. Having players who believe in what we are trying to teach and still care and respect the basketball program at Whitehall is motivating for me.

“While I do love coaching, my job of teaching English at the middle school and impacting kids’ lives every day is what is truly most important to me.”