By Mark Schiele

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He grew up in Bucks County and thrived in Berks County. But now, Adam Van Zelst has landed in Montgomery County as the head men’s basketball coach at Arcadia University.

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Van Zelst was recently introduced as the new men’s basketball coach at the Glenside school. He brings an impressive resume with him, both as a player and a coach. And he’s happy to be close to home, writes Rich Scarcella for the Reading Eagle.

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He hoped to one day land a head coaching job and dreamed it would be in the Philadelphia area, where he grew up.

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“I’m just ecstatic and excited,” he told the Reading Eagle after accepting the position. “This is a destination job for me. I never thought I’d get back home. I haven’t lived at home (in Fairless Hills) since high school. This felt like the perfect fit. The timing was right.”

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Van Zelst, 31, already feels right at home.

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It has been a long journey. But also a fun-filled one as well. With a happy ending.

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Van Zelst spent 12 years in Reading as a player and assistant coach in the Albright men’s basketball program. He succeeds Justin Scott, who posted a 104-87 record in seven seasons before he accepted a job as assistant coach at St. Joseph’s, where former Bishop Kenrick High alum Phil Martelli had guided the Hawks.

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“This is a good program and a really good academic school,” Van Zelst said. “It’s a bonus to build off what Justin left behind. He’s made my job a lot easier. We have a strong incoming class. Now I have to build relationships with the current players, the incoming guys and the alumni.”

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Van Zelst played high school basketball at Conwell-Egan before enrolling at Albright in 2006. A two-year starter at point guard who played in his final 53 games, he averaged 4.6 points, a team-high 4.5 assists and 3.9 rebounds a game as a junior.

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“Basketball’s been my life,” he said. “I didn’t know what I would do without it. One thing led to another and I fell in love with coaching.”

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To read the complete story click here.

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