Upper Perkiomen's boys basketball team has a new head coach. Brandon

Hibbler, the former girls coach at Palisades High School, was hired in May to replace Jared Krupp, who recently resigned after six years.

            Hibbler, a graduate of Kutztown University and an accomplished college softball umpire, describes himself a players' kind of coach who has good knowledge of the game and is willing to serve as a role model. A graduate of Lehighton Area High School who turns 30 in November, the coach said he knows how to relate to kids.

            Last season, Hibbler led the Pirates to a 10-12 overall record, including a 6-12 mark in the Colonial League's East Division. He served previously as the head coach of the girls basketball team at Lincoln Leadership charter school in Allentown.

            Hibbler, who works as an assistant manager at two golf course pro shops, said he wanted to get back into coaching boys. He previously coached them on the JV team at Palmerton High school and the freshman at Leighton.

            Krupp, a third grade teacher at Marlborough Elementary School, submitted his resignation in the spring. The East Greenville resident said he wanted to spend more time at home with his wife Erin and his 18-month old daughter Emery. He thanked the district and Erin for their support during his time leading the program.

            "I loved working with the kids," said Krupp, who made the decision to retire at the end of a 2-20 season.  "I loved doing it."

            In six seasons, Krupp posted a 38-96 record. Twenty six of those victories came during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. During the latter, the Indians won the Pioneer Athletic Conference's Frontier Division and qualified for the Final Four. They also appeared in the District One playoffs.

            "We got the program to a level of respectability," said Krupp, 34, who coached the district's middle school team the previous four years. "There has been significant progress. Even this past season, we were competitive in almost every game. There's a lot to be proud of over the last six years."

            Krupp thanked the district and his wife for their support during his time leading the program.