See which state semifinalist is repeat pick for Coach of the Year
Upper Moreland head coach Dan Heiland led the Golden Bears to the PIAA boys basketball state semifinals for second straight season, plus 20 wins
Dan Heiland insists boys basketball coaches tend to get more credit than they deserve. “It really is the players that have to go out and execute,” said Heiland, the sixth-year Upper Moreland coach. But Heiland’s track record seems to suggest otherwise.
The Golden Bears shared the Suburban One League Freedom Division title, marking their first championship in 42 years, in addition to winning the first PIAA state playoff game in school history on the way to the Class 5A semifinals and 24 wins last season. Despite losing three starters to graduation, including divisional player of the year Colson Campbell and shooting guard Jadon Cybok, this year’s team returned to the state playoffs and again secured three PIAA victories to make the semifinals. It also won 20 games.
Led by a starting five of senior captains Nate Best and Larry Hughes , sophomores Cannon Campbell , Jose Hernandez and junior Kyle Moore , the Bears (20-10) produced another unforgettable season. Basketball Player of Year: Who is our Bucks County High School Boys Basketball Player of the Year? How Upper Moreland upset: Defending state champ Neumann-Goretti in PIAA quarterfinals “He’s just a great coach,” Best said.
“He gets involved and tells us what we’re doing right and what we’re doing wrong. He reiterates what we need to do so much and so well (that) he installs it in our brains. We know what we’re doing (and) we’re all like extensions of him.