When rumblings started last offseason that Easton was looking to make a change in the football program, I began putting together a list of potential replacements for Steve Shiffert, or at least names that I would think and hope the Athletic Department and School Board would reach out to and consider. At the top of this list when initially compiled was Tim Moncman, who I firmly believe is the best coach in the Valley, and I also know was interested in the Easton job should it ever have come open. However, with Moncman taking the Parkland job last offseason, there is absolutely no chance he’s making a move now. He's in a better situation (richer school, bigger school, more stability, better assistants budget, continuity, current top dog, etc., etc.). Yet another way this coaching change has not worked out in Easton’s favor.
The list is divided into categories, and within each category, ranked by how likely i think their hire is. The three names be bandied about early in the rumor mill are Matt Evancho, Phil Stambaugh, and Kyle Haas. Each are discussed below.
Easton Alums from Outside the Program
Matt Evancho: Former Head Coach, Saucon Valley
High School: Easton ‘93
College: Penn State ‘97
Any list has to start with Evancho, the former Red Rover captain who led Saucon Valley to the state semifinals in 2015 to cap a successful tenure with the Panthers. He is the winningest coach in Saucon Valley history by a longshot and produced some of the best teams in school history. However, Evancho resigned following the 2015 season, citing clinical depression dating back to his playing days and the need to take time off to get himself healthy. I think every football person around the Valley likes and respects Evancho, and his health takes the utmost priority. But if he feels he’s ready to get back in the game after an Urban Meyer-esque year off, this would be a great hire. As a player, Evancho broke in to Easton’s lineup as a sophomore, and played linebacker back-to-back D11 champions in 1990 and 1991, and was defensive MVP of the 1992 Easton-P’burg game. After Easton, Evancho walked on at Penn State for Joe Paterno and was a letter winner and special teams contributor as a senior. As a coach, Evancho went to two state championship games and won a state title as the defensive coordinator at Wilson Area before taking over at Saucon Valley. In 2015, the Panthers went 14-1, won their third Colonial League championship in school history, their first District 11 title since 2004, and advanced to the Eastern Finals. His SV teams blended spread looks with power football, and he plays fast, physical defense. He also drew up the game plan that shut down Terelle Pryor in the 2006 title game, and he’s widely regarded as one of the best defensive coaches in the Valley. Schematically and personality wise, he’s a tremendous fit at Easton, and obviously has extra cache as an alum, and as somebody who played at one of the premier programs in college football. He also still lives in Easton and has children in the school district. And, he understands the tradition and history at Easton, and has an inherent advantage for all of the non-football aspects of the job, and navigating the P'Burg rivalry. The downsides are he’s never coached at a big school, and Saucon Valley could not be more different than Easton in terms of population. And obviously, his health comes before everything. I think it’s his job if he wants it, but that is a big if.
Frank Lane: Former Assistant Head Coach, Parkland
High School: Easton ‘87
College: Bloomsburg ‘91
I’ve heard that Lane covets the Easton job and that Lane is ready to be out of coaching, so I the rumor mill is all over the place on this one. Lane spent decades as Jim Morgans’s right hand man at Allentown Central Catholic, Salisbury, Freedom, and Parkland before “retiring” with Morgans last offseason. His only head coaching job was a brief stint at Salisbury, where he replaced Morgans and took the Falcons to their only district playoff appearance in school history. As a player, Lane was a 1,000 yard running back at Easton and was the prototypical, hard nosed Easton ballcarrier. He’s also a guy who very clearly loves his alma mater and has been a long support of the Easton football family, even though he’s never coached here. When Morgans resigned at Parkland, Lane was the only assistant who did not stay on with the new staff, choosing to take 2016 off from coaching. I’ve heard both that he was ready to be done and that he was preparing for the Easton job to open. Lane would be an interesting fit as a head coach. Nobody is as high energy as Frank Lane. I think everybody loves him and it would be a great homecoming, but I do wonder if Lane burns so hot that he’s a better assistant than head coach.
Jarred Holley: Graduate Assistant, Arizona State
High School: Easton ‘08
College: Pittsburgh ‘12
Holley was the most highly recruited player of the Steve Shiffert era, a four star defensive back who went on to be a three time All Big East safety at Pitt. Holley is far and away the youngest guy on this list, and just started his coaching career as a grad assistant at Arizona State with one of his former college coaches, Todd Graham (he stunningly played for four coaches in five years at Pitt). The inexperience isn’t ideal, but few Easton athletes/alums have ever had his approval rating, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the athletic department reached out. I also have no idea if he has any desire to leave Tempe, Arizona to come back home, particularly if he wants to stay in the college game. Holley is incredibly well liked (which isn’t hard, he’s a great guy) and comes from a big Easton family that’s a staple in the community. He’s a smart and personable guy with obvious playing credentials, but he’s also mild mannered in a way that doesn’t scream head coach, and is still wet behind the ears.
Todd Parsons: QB Coach, Brown University
High School: Easton ‘02
College: Averett University (Va.) ‘06
This would be the completely out of the box hire. Parsons set Easton’s single season passing record and led them to an 11-1 season and an appearance in the D11 finals in 2001. After Easton, Parsons played Division III football at Averett (Va.) where he set school records in total yardage and passing touchdowns. Parsons had been a Division III quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, before getting the QB coach job at Brown four years ago. Parsons is the son of Dave Parsons, who was the head coach at Lehighton for 29 years, winning six conference championships and the 1987 D11 title (over Easton in a stunner). If his ultimate goal is to be a college head coach, this isn’t the move for Parsons. But if he wants to get away from recruiting at a school with a tiny budget and the lowest assistant coach pay in the Ivy League, he might take a call from his alma mater. He’s the son of a D11 high school coach, he played at Easton and clearly has coaching chops from his rise as a college assistant. He’d be a nice blend of understanding of Easton tradition with outside experiences and influences to incorporate into the program.
