Matt Ashcroft resigning as head boys basketball coach at Exeter, according to report

Exeter’s Matt Ashcroft has compiled a 56-45 record in four seasons as head boys basketball coach. (BILL UHRICH – READING EAGLE)

Matt Ashcroft shows an incredible passion while coaching basketball.

Not surprisingly, he said that zeal runs through his entire being, making his decision to resign as the boys basketball coach at Exeter, news that broke Friday, not as shocking as it would appear.

“I love two things more than basketball on this planet: my family and friends,” Ashcroft said. “That’s it.”

Ashcroft, coming off a magical season leading the Eagles, has decided to step down, citing the need to spend more time with his family.

“People always say you’ll know when it’s time,” Ashcroft said Friday afternoon. “And I think all you can do is make the best decision for you and your family at the time and let things play out.

“The biggest driver for me is I have a wife (Rebecca) and a 2-year-old (daughter Macy) at home and during the basketball season it’s two full-time jobs — my day job and then coaching basketball — so that played a big role, wanting to spend more time with the family.”

Ashcroft, 34, said he missed the “little things,” like eating meals together and putting his daughter to bed.

“Everyday life,” he said. “I’m excited to do that. The sport of basketball will always be there, but your kids when they’re young won’t be.”

Ashcroft, a Central Catholic and Albright College grad who compiled a 56-45 record in four seasons as head coach, said he began thinking about his coaching future right when the season ended.

“Prayed about it a lot,” said Ashcroft, who also works at EHD Insurance. “Didn’t want to make any rash decisions. Basketball today, if you want to do it right, it’s my opinion that it’s a 365-day-a-year job. You have to be ready, willing and able to do that, to sacrifice a lot of stuff in order to achieve those kinds of things and have that success and build a program and a culture and stuff like that. Yeah, I think that all went into it.”

Ashcroft led the Eagles to a historic season in 2022-23, when he was named the Berks Coach of the Year by the league’s coaches and the PIAA Class 5A Coach of the Year by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers.

Exeter finished 27-7, winning its first division title since 1984, advancing to the Berks Conference final for the first time since 1974, winning the first district title in program history and reaching the PIAA Class 5A championship game. That state finals appearance was also the program’s first since 1974.

The Eagles lost to Reading High 70-63 in the Berks final, defeated Manheim Central 67-53 in the district final and fell 78-40 to Imhotep Charter in the state final. Imhotep featured ESPN’s top-ranked prospect in Justin Edwards, a Kentucky commit.

“This was one of the most special experiences of my life, the past six months,” Ashcroft said.

Exeter — led by center Anthony Caccese, a second-team All-State pick in Class 5A, and guard Zyion Paschall, a third-team All-State selection — accomplished all that behind a balanced offense that had four starters who averaged at least 10 points per game.

“They’re incredible,” Ashcroft said of his players. “Mature beyond their years. Again, sounds cliche, but it’s true. For a bunch of 14- to 17-year-olds to come together and buy in the way they did. Individual statistics were never, ever on their mind, ever, and for them to have that collective mindset speaks volumes of who they are and speaks volumes of their maturity.”

Ashcroft led the Eagles to a 13-9 record in his first season, 2019-20. Exeter went 3-14 in his second season, then 13-15 in 2021-22, when it finished seventh in District 3 Class 5A and qualified for states.

Ashcroft helped Central Catholic win a PIAA Class 1A championship as a senior in 2007. He finished his high school career with 1,036 points.

In college at Albright, he was a two-time all-conference pick and helped the Lions to a Middle Atlantic Conference championship as a junior in 2010.

Though basketball has been a central part of his life for a long time, he said he didn’t know if he’d ever get back into coaching.

“I’m excited for this summer,” he said. “I think I’ve gotten better at being present. That’s sort of what I’m focused on.”

Ashcroft said was grateful for the opportunity Exeter gave a guy with no head coaching experience. Now someone else will lead the 2023-24 Eagles, a team slated to have a talented group that received plenty of experience playing against top competition.

“That’s I guess the thing that I’ll miss the most is just being around these kids and our coaching staff and building these relationships,” Ashcroft said. “That’s what the game’s all about, helping kids, helping people, building relationships with others. That’s what life’s all about. The wins are nice, but that’s what I’ll miss.”