New Antietam Head Coach is Youngest in Berks Girls League
- Jun 25
- 3 min read
Antietam girls basketball has turned to its next head coach with the hopes he can improve the program's recent struggles.
Antietam Athletic Director Christian Murray recently confirmed via email to BGB that Garrett Camelleri will take over the program.
"Garrett Camelleri brings tremendous enthusiasm, passion, and determination to the position," Murray said. "Throughout the hiring process, it was clear that he has a strong vision for the future of the program and a genuine commitment to the development of our student athletes both on and off the court."
Camelleri, 24, becomes the youngest coach in the Berks Girls League.
"Coaching has been a dream since second grade," Camelleri said via phone call to BGB last week. "Coaching was always the priority over playing. When this opportunity came, I looked back at an old basketball coaching book I'd saved as a kid and thought, 'This has been my dream.'"
Camelleri graduated from Kutztown University and recently completed a master's degree program while serving as an intern in the Antietam School District. He will begin his teaching career in another local district this fall. In addition, he has directed a summer basketball camp through Exeter Township for the past six years.
"I like to say it's expertise, not experience," Camelleri said. "I do have experience, but I'm excited about the expertise and what I can bring for these girls."
The Exeter grad served as an assistant under last year's head coach Jamie Harle, who was not retained after going 3-38 in two seasons including 0-20 last season.
"I love those kids," Camelleri said. "After spending a year with them and building those relationships, I felt they deserved a great coach. I believe I can bring that, and I want to give those girls what they deserve — a chance to win and a chance to grow."
Harle had taken over for Tim Rivera, who went 2-41 in two seasons as the Mounts head coach. Rivera previously took over for Greg Swavely, now Pottstown's girls' head coach, who went 23-37 in three seasons.
"They've had a lot of new coaches recently and haven't really been able to establish anything over the last several years," Camelleri said. "I'm hoping to bring that longevity — meeting them where they're at, but building something consistent that can grow year after year."
Antietam has fallen on some hard times since last qualifying for the BCIAA playoffs in 2017 and district playoffs in 2019. The Mounts last won a district playoff game in 2012. The first occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic when Antietam canceled the girls basketball season. The next two seasons the Mounts went 2-37 overall.
A few months following the 2022-23 season, a July flood of the Antietam Creek severely damaged the school and gymnasium. The Mounts went 1-21 the next year before Harle took over.
Despite those challenges, Camelleri believes the foundation is there to rebuild. He has a promising piece to build around in rising sophomore Asahnti Dotson, who led the team with a 7.9 scoring average and hit 11 3-pointers in her freshman campaign.
"Asahnti is a great player heading into her sophomore year, and there's a lot to be excited about with her and a lot of the other girls," Camelleri said. "We have some talented freshmen coming in, so we'll have more depth and more options this year."
Camelleri will fill out his coaching staff with one assistant and said there will also likely be some volunteer coaches. After that, the work to bring success back to the program begins.
"Basketball success is the goal," he said. "That's what I'm hired for and that's what the record will hopefully show. But these girls are going to get more than that. They're going to get a foundation for how to live their lives, and that's something I'm excited about."
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