Allentown’s Executive Education Academy Charter announces new varsity football program
The Raptors plan to have a 10-game schedule and are hoping to secure Muhlenberg College for home games
Something to watch here - Executive Education Academy Charter already has an excellent basketball program (currently they're #5 in 3A right now) and will be adding football for fall 2021. EEAC has made splashy hires in other sports - the basketball coach is Ray Barbosa, a two-time All State pick and 2,000 point scorer at William Allen who led UMBC to their first NCAA appearance (not that one) and scored 1,500+ points in college, then played professionally overseas. Barbosa was lured away from Bethlehem Catholic and is one of the big names in local hoops. They've won two D11 titles in the two years they've been open, and have advanced in the state tournament both seasons. They also made a big wrestling hire - Ziad Haddad, a state champ from Bethlehem Catholic who was an NCAA qualifier at UNC before transferring to Kutztown, where he won two Division II National Championships and was back-to-back National Wrestler of the Year in Division II. They have not had the same immediate success as the hoops program.
I don't have any indications as to who the head coach will be. Bob Lysek in the article hints at that it will be a big name locally (Rob Melosky) announced in the next few days. My initial take is this school is very serious about being good at sports as a front porch for the school and they would field a solid 3A football team in short order. Because it is a specialized program, they do not have district boundary requirements, though their charter is with the Allentown School District, who primarily provides their funding (and is in a battle with EEAC right now to cut tuition). EEAC is also trying to open a second location in Allentown - my guess is they would compete athletically as a co-op because they are schools being run by the same administration and board. Something to watch out for up here.
