For Pleasant Valley head boys’ basketball coach Joe Berezwick and Lehighton head boys’ coach Trevor Miller, basketball is truly a family affair.

In both households, it has been a tight-knit family, both on and off the court.

Both coaches have had family members along their coaching journeys, and they have made those treks an easier one in several ways.

A FAMILY ROOTED

IN BASKETBALL

Since 2017, Berezwick has been part of a trio along with his father, Joseph, and sister, Shaina, with ties at Tamaqua and Lehighton before their present stop at Pleasant Valley.

Currently, Berezwick’s father is his assistant, and his sister is the scorekeeper.

“We have always been a basketball family,” reflected Berezwick. “My father was a longtime girls basketball coach at Tamaqua, where my sister played for him and where I played basketball. Our current arrangement of coaching/scorekeeping together began eight years ago at Lehighton, when my father served as head coach, I worked as his assistant, and my sister kept the scorebook.

“After spending a year away, we were fortunate to be reunited and brought back together at Pleasant Valley.”

With the arrangement, Berezwick doesn’t have any regrets. Neither does his father or sister.

“It has been an incredible experience for all of us,” gushed Berezwick. “For eight years, we have had the opportunity to spend time together as a family while sharing and enhancing the game we love. Coaching alongside one another, and supporting student-athletes has created memories that will last a lifetime.

“Whether we are going out to dinner after a game with all our family, celebrating hard-earned victories, or learning from difficult losses, the experience has always been meaningful because we are able to share it together. Being around family while doing something we are passionate about has made the entire journey truly rewarding. It has also been great to have all of our family attend our games and cheer us on.”

THE BEREZWICK TRIO

Berezwick’s father, who began his coaching career at St. Jerome’s CYO program in Tamaqua during the 1980s, has had a coaching career that has spanned five decades. His wife, Karen, and children Joe, Shaina and Megan, along with some extended family members, have always been a staple of it.

“My wife Karen’s help and support behind us has made it all possible, and basketball was and is a big part of daily life in our household,” stressed Berezwick.

“From my kids’ playing days to all my years of coaching and now Joe having his time as a head coach, the game continues for us. Game nights find the family getting ready, with myself, Joe and Shaina preparing for another game and Karen, Megan and sometimes our granddaughter Carly in the stands to cheer the team on.”

The elder Berezwick began coaching with his son and daughter keeping the book with the Lehighton girls’ program. After he stepped down in 2023, his son took over the Pleasant Valley boys’ team this past season after serving as an assistant for a year.

Now an assistant, the elder Berezwick has found himself in a different role, but one he has truly cherished.

“As parents, along with our family, we are so proud of him as a teacher and a coach, which both come with tremendous responsibilities,” said Berezwick of his son.

“It was a little awkward at first with him now as the boss — he has to remind me of that sometimes — but it’s been so enjoyable to once again be coaching alongside my son in an assistant role, helping him navigate through his first year.

“I hope to be able to continue with him through his journey for many years to come to keep creating basketball and family memories every day.”

MEMORIES MADE

TOGETHER

The younger Berezwick couldn’t have wished for a better situation.

“It has meant the world to me,” gushed the current head coach. “From the beginning of my life, I remember attending my father’s games as a child and watching my sisters play. My dad played a huge role in my development, not only as a basketball player but also as a man.

“Because of that, it meant a great deal to begin my coaching career alongside him and continue learning the game together. It has been both an honor and a joy to now have him helping me as I start my own coaching journey, along with my sister, who has been a tremendous support by keeping the scorebook. Most importantly, the game of basketball has given our entire family — my mom, my sisters, my dad and me — the opportunity to spend meaningful time together and share experiences that we will always cherish.”

Getting a win — his first this season — for the younger Berezwick on Lehighton’s floor, a 65-64 buzzer-beater Dec. 22, was a memory-maker for the family.

“The most memorable moment for our family came this year when we returned to Lehighton, where our journey together first began,” reminisced Berezwick. “The Lehighton people gave us a warm welcome, and genuine hospitality was shown to all three of us.

“It meant a great deal to reconnect with so many friends we made during our time there eight years ago. Earning my first victory as a coach in that familiar gym made the experience even more meaningful. Most importantly, we were able to share that special moment together as a family in the very place where it all started, and celebrating it with loved ones made it truly unforgettable.”

His sister, Shaina Gill, also was moved as she watched it unfold.

“Standing there, watching my brother compete against a program that had once been such a big part of our lives, was bittersweet,” pondered Gill. “It was emotional, nostalgic and powerful all at once — a reminder that basketball has always been more than a game for us. It has been our connection, our history and our shared language.

“Basketball was never just about wins or losses — it was about time together, trust and learning life lessons side by side. I often refer to us as the ‘family trio,’ because my dad, my brother and I have always been close, and basketball was the thread that kept us connected through every stage of life.

“To many people, this dynamic can be complicated, but for us, it is something incredibly special.”

ANOTHER FAMILY,

A FAMILIAR PATH

Like the Berezwicks, the Millers also have experienced a range of emotions during their time together. Trevor Miller’s mother, Donna, is the scorekeeper.

Father Jeff Miller blazed the trail beginning with his playing days at Lehighton and East Stroudsburg University before he had head coaching stops at Lehigh Carbon Community College, Lehighton and Northern Lehigh.

While attending Bloomsburg University, Trevor Miller joined his father as a volunteer assistant at Northern Lehigh from 2010-12. Upon his graduation, Miller took a teaching job at Lehighton and joined his father’s staff at Northern Lehigh.

He eventually became the JV coach at Northern Lehigh, but when Lehighton’s head job opened up, Miller was initially anxious to apply.

“At first I wasn’t sure I wanted to be a head coach yet,” recollected Miller. “I enjoyed being my dad’s assistant, and it was a difficult decision for me to leave my dad’s staff. After talking with my dad, he urged me to apply for it, which I did, and I accepted the position.”

The two coached against each other six times, and the father saw six priceless episodes. For the record, the elder Miller won four of the six matchups.

“We coached against each other’s teams a few times,” recalled the elder Miller. “There were many proud father moments when you look down at the other sideline and see your son running his own program.”

LESSONS PASSED DOWN

The younger Miller has a cavalcade of memories from his father’s basketball influence, a timeline that proved invaluable.

“My dad has impacted me tremendously in life and basketball,” emphasized Miller. “As a kid, I always had a basketball in my hand. My dad taught me how to dribble with both hands by the time I was in third grade. He would have me dribble up the street with my right hand, then back down the street with my left hand. He was always teaching, which I loved.

“Most of my childhood memories come from basketball with my dad. I would go to games with him all the time, and I think those moments spent with him provided me with the love of the game of basketball. When he was the head coach at Lehigh Carbon Community College, I would stay up at night until he got home from his games, just so I would know if he won or not. Once he got home and I knew the outcome, then I would go to bed.”

The Lehighton head coach has watched his father adapt to the current situation and the evolving game.

“He’s taken on a different role now than when he was a head coach,” offered Miller. “Our entire team goes to him with questions, and he always leads them in the right direction. For me, it’s been a neat experience to see the change he has made from a head coach to an assistant. He was always very intense as the head coach — I am as well — to where he now is the calming influence on our team.”

Yet any potential conflicts are always avoided.

“As far as basketball goes, he and I are always on the same page,” added Miller. “We both see the game similarly, and many of the strategies and adjustments we use come from his experiences.

“All of my knowledge of the game comes from him. He’s the smartest person I’ve met when it comes to basketball. He sees the game differently than anyone else, and I love his input. He makes my job a lot easier, and is also great with the kids.

“Every player on our team really likes him, and they know they can go to him with any questions about basketball or life. A lot of things have changed in education and sports since he started coaching, but he has done an amazing job of adapting to those changes.”

FULL CIRCLE ON THE BENCH

His father also has relished his spot on the bench. Basketball has kept their bond tight.

“It’s great coaching with him,” beamed his father. “Not only is he my son, but also my best friend. We talk every day, and I get to see my two grandchildren and daughter-in-law more often as they come to many practices and games. My wife has kept the scorebook for many years as well. Away from basketball, we try to get out golfing together as much as possible.”

His son’s children, 7-year-old Shay and 4-year-old Ty, have begun to follow in his footsteps.

“It’s also great because my dad gets to work with both of them at practices, similarly to how he did with me as a kid,” emphasized Miller. “He works on both of them dribbling with both hands just like he did with me.

“It’s a full-circle moment for me.”

As far as both families go, basketball has created plenty of full-circle scenarios.