Whitehall-Coplay Middle School teacher Brandon Hampton was named Whitehall High School’s new cross country coach earlier this year, taking over for Mike Lelko who stepped down after 15 years at the helm.

Now, with the 2023 season here, Hampton is realizing a dream of coaching for the same school at which he teaches. The bonus is that Lelko works security at the middle school, making him available for any guidance Hampton might need.

“Mike shows me the ins and outs of the Lehigh Valley, and I know I can lean on him,” Coach Hampton said. “I’m learning the ropes as I go.”

Hampton, an English teacher, was working at Hazelton Area High School when he attended the PIAA State Field Hockey Championships at Zephyr Sports Complex and was so impressed with the campus that it prompted him to do a job search.

“It just fell into place,” said Hampton, who ran cross country and track at Pittston Area High School before receiving his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from King’s College.

Hampton coached track at Pittston Area Middle School and Wyoming Valley West High School, as well as cross country at Wyoming Area Middle School.

At Whitehall, Hampton will be assisted by Eugene Konno, a science teacher at the high school.

“We had summer running, and we lifted over the summer and had a really good turnout for that,” Hampton said. “They’re a young group. I had a lot of the freshmen in class, and I’m looking forward to having that young team and getting them used to running their own race.”