HIGH SCHOOL: Cantarella, Hooper tabbed as head coaches
Two Former Assistants Lead Their Alma Maters
Cantarella Takes Over Softball at Dunmore; Hooper Heads Girls Basketball at Mid Valley
Two familiar faces are stepping into head coaching roles at their alma maters this fall. Sarah (Ross) Cantarella has been named the new softball coach at Dunmore, while Stephen Hooper takes the helm of the girls basketball program at Mid Valley.
Both coaches recently served as assistant coaches for the successful Mid Valley softball team that captured the District 2 Class 3A title and reached the PIAA Class 3A semifinals this spring.
"I’m really excited and feel really fortunate to go back to a program that built me into the athlete and the person that I am today,” Cantarella said. “I want to be able to give back and help others do the same thing.”
Cantarella, a 2014 Dunmore graduate, returns to her high school after spending six seasons as an assistant softball coach under Mike Piercy at Mid Valley. She played collegiately at Concordia College in New York before becoming a sixth-grade math teacher in the Mid Valley School District.
“I was really fortunate. Mid Valley is a wonderful program,” Cantarella said. “From coach Piercy and the other assistants, I learned so much and grew so much as a coach. I hope to be able to implement everything I learned from them into Dunmore and help build the program and be successful.”
Cantarella inherits a team that finished 12-9 overall last season, losing in the District 2 Class 2A semifinals to eventual champion Holy Redeemer. The Lady Bucks return several key players, including Rachel Walsh, a Pennsylvania High School Softball Coaches Association second-team all-state selection in Class 2A.
Hooper, a 2009 Mid Valley graduate who played basketball for coach Mark Mazak, brings his coaching experience to the girls basketball program after 10 years as an assistant with the Mid Valley baseball team and seven seasons as a girls basketball assistant. He succeeds Denise Larson.
“I’m super excited to get to work,” Hooper said. “Being in the program, I know we have some girls coming back and some of the junior high girls coming up. It’s my alma mater and something I’ve always dreamed of doing since I got into coaching. I’m excited the school gave me the opportunity.”
Hooper's familiarity with the players gives him a head start as he aims to build on last season’s 15-8 record and first-round District 2 Class 4A playoff loss to Nanticoke Area.
“I feel like that’s a huge advantage for me,” Hooper said. “I’ve coached every girl at one point in junior high. The fact I don’t have to develop relationships, they’re already built in, has allowed me to hit the ground running as I take over.”
He plans to continue the defensive focus established by Larson and incorporate a faster-paced offense with the returning players.
“We were on the same page, that’s why we got along so well,” Hooper said. “We both wanted to be really gritty on the defensive end. I don’t foresee that changing. We want to get after it defensively.”
Hooper cites his former coach Mazak as a mentor and hopes to emulate his coaching style, building strong relationships with his players and creating a positive experience.
These changes mark four new girls basketball coaches entering the Lackawanna League next season, with Dante Lucarelli at Old Forge, Joe Ferguson returning to North Pocono, and Jamie Armillay taking over at Riverside.