Coaches

Varsity Head Coach
5 Years Varsity Coach (71-44)
15 Years Assistant Coach

• Native of Brooklyn, NY & 1995 grad of the original Pocono Mountain HS where he was a 3-yr letter winner & 2-year captain under HOF’er Brad Pensyl. As a senior, led his team to the 1st district championship game in school history and 1st ever birth in the PIAA state tournament

•  Still owns the school record at PMHS/PM East HS  for career assists (303), assists in a season (148) and assists in a game (12 - three times).

• Played collegiately at Wilkes University where he won a MAC Championship and was a member of the school’s 1995-96 NCAA Elite 8 team

• Journalism degree from Penn State University

• Teaching degree from East Stroudsburg University

• Coached 7th, 8th and JV under Brad Pensyl during his first 15 years at West

• Became the Varsity Coach in the 2017-18 season. Since then, his teams qualified for the district playoffs every year, reached the DXI 6A Championship in 2022, reached the DXI semis 3 times, gotten to the PIAA State Tourney twice (Sweet 16 in 17-18), and won the EPC Monroe Division Championship twice

• Pocono Mountain cyber teacher  & residential real estate appraiser

• Resides in Pocono Pines with his wife Mindy Williams (WJHS math teacher) & 3 sons, Brody (12), Braylon (10) & Bryce (8) all who attend school on the West side of the district.

Assistant Head Varsity Coach
Defensive Coordinator
6 Years in Program

• Graduate of Nanticoke HS where he led his team to the 1985 state championship game, was a 2x MVP of the Wyoming Valley Conf & later inducted into the school’s HOF.

•  Coach finished his HS career netting over 1,300 pts, 900 reb and was voted an All-State player as a senior. During that time he also played for arguably the best AAU program in the state - The Pace Setters.

• Earned the Presidential Scholarship (given to the most academically distinguished seniors in the country) to Kings College where he continued to star on the hardwood for the next 4 years and graduated with his degree in secondary education math.

• Coach P served as head coach of Pleasant Valley HS from 1995-2014 where he won a MVC championship in 2003 & the District XI championship in 1998 while being  named The Morning Call, Pocono Record and Times News Coach of the Year.

• Teaches math at Pleasant Valley HS

• Resides in Kunkletown with his wife Michelle.

Junior Varsity Coach
9 Years in Program

• A 2006 graduate of Pocono Mountain East HS where he was one of only two players in school history to be a four-year varsity starter. Coach Strickland led his team to MVC titles and district runner-up spots in both 2004 and 2006. During his high school career Coach Strickland was well known as the premier defender in the area. Offensively he caused headaches on the offensive side of the ball with his slashing ability and highlight reel dunks. He finished his illustrious career at East with 988 points and wound up as the school's all-time steals leader - cementing his legacy as the best defender in East history.

• After high school, Coach Strickland continued his academic and playing career collegiately at the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford where he received his bachelor of arts degrees in 2010 in kinesiology and sports management.

• After graduation he moved on to play professionally for the ABA franchise Jersey Express.

• He has led our  7th/8th grade, freshman and JV teams & does a great job with player development

• He works as a paraprofessional at West Junior High School with emotional support students.

Volunteer Varsity Assistant Coach
5 Years in Program

• A 2012 West graduate & two-year captain, Coach Dixon lead the 2012 squad to District XI 'AAAA' gold against Parkland High School. That team  finished 22-5, went undefeated at home, and was the first and only in the long history of Pocono Mountain School District to win the coveted District XI title. On top of the district gold, Dixon's teams won back-to-back Mountain Valley Championships in 2011 and 2012 and the tenacious rebounder also was named first team All-MVC his senior season and second team during his junior year. The most balanced player in school history finished his career w/625 points, 555 rebounds (ranked 2nd all-time), 133 steals, and 132 assists during his three years in a West uniform. 

• His work on the court and in the classroom earned Coach Dixon a full scholarship to play for Division II Roberts Wesleyan College of the East Coast Conference where he was a four-year starter, three-year captain, was voted on to the all-ECC freshman team and was an all-ECC pick his senior season. His career totals include 1,435 points (10th all-time in school history and first all-time in the school's DII era), 783 rebounds, 295 assists, and 175 steals in four years. As a senior, Coach Dixon led his team in every major statistical category including drawn charges. 

• In 2016, he graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice and was then immediately inducted into the Roberts Wesleyan Hall of Fame.

• He currently works as a youth probation officer for Monroe County and resides in Tobyhanna with his wife Andrea and their two children, Kamryn (3) and Karter (1)

Volunteer Varsity Assistant Coach
Offensive Coordinator
4 Years in Program

• A 2012 graduate of Pocono Mountain West HS where  he led us to our 1st district championship in school history and won 2 MVC Championships in 2011 and 2012. As a senior he was named to the AP All-State team for 6A,  Mountain Valley Conference MVP, Via of the Lehigh Valley Player of the Year, Channel 13 Player of the year, Pocono Record Player of the Year & voted to The Morning Call’s All-District XI Team. 

• Coach Brice earned a full scholarship to Harcum Junior College where he earned his associates degree, averaged 12 ppg over his career and made a trip to the NJCAA Final Four.

• After his 2 years at Junior College, Coach Brice moved on to play at East Stroudsburg University where he also received a full scholarship, was named team captain as a senior and helped the Warriors to the PSAC Quarterfinals.

• Coach Brice graduated from East Stroudsburg University with a degree in Sports Management.

• He has parlayed that degree into a successful business venture - QBrice Training

• His company focuses on specific basketball skills training for players of all levels. He currently has over 30 clients that include overseas pros, current college players, HS Varsity/JV players, Junior high, & elementary age children.

Freshman Coach

7/8th Grade Coach
4 Years in Program

• Coach Brown is a PA coaching legend best known for leading the best team in Monroe County history.

• Brown started his coaching career as the girls head coach at East Stroudsburg Area High School where he logged 117 wins and 60 losses, two Centennial League Championships, six playoff appearances, and  a PIAA State Playoff Qualifier in 1982.

• Brown then took his talents to coaching boys basketball where he coached for Panther Valley High School for 3 years. There he logged 50 wins and 33 losses, three playoff appearances, and led his team to the 1984 PIAA State Tournament Elite 8..

• However, he really made his mark when he landed back  at East Stroudsburg Area High School where he became the boys coach for 8 years. During that time his team logged 123 wins and 76 losses, had 6 playoff appearances, 2 Centennial League Championships, a 1994 District XI AAAA Championship, and  the 1994 PIAA State Tournament  Elite 8. The ‘94 team is well known as the best team to ever come through Monroe County and the first ever to beat a team from the Lehigh Valley for district gold. That season Brown was also named The Morning Call Coach of The Year.

• For the next 21 years, Brown volunteered as a coach in the Stroudsburg 5th and 6th grade basketball program where he was well known for his detailed teaching of fundamentals in the youth program. During that time, he also lead his teams to 9 Greater Pocono Basketball Tournament Championships.

• This year will be  Coach Brown’s 5th year running our Junior High School program. 

• He has been happily married for 41 years to his lovely wife Debbie. They have two children  together, William (33) and Cynthia (29) and three granddaughters Riley (8), Addison (5) & Kennedy (3 months)

Volunteer Assistant Coach
4 Years in Program

• 2009 graduate of Pocono Mountain West High School

• Ranked 4th all-time for steals in a season (90)

• T-4th all-time for career drawn charges (15)

• 6th all-time career for steals (130)

• Top 20 all-time career in FG made (200), FG% (51%), FT% (66.7%), Rebounds (268), Avg. Reb/gm (5.1), Points (499)

• Played collegiately at Marywood

• 2 years as our 7th grade coach and 2 years as a volunteer assistant coach

• Coach Cole is also an assistant Track & Field Coach at West (jumpers)

• He works as a floor supervisor at Mount Airy Casino

• Resides in Tobyhanna with his children Elijah (10), Amya (7), Braylen (3) & Layla (1).