Lehigh Valley high school, college, pro notes: Pair of retirement plans, a death, more

Tim Neiman, who retired in August after 36 years in charge of the DeSales baseball program, is starting a weekly internet radio and podcast show in September, weaving together leadership, business and life-lessons from baseball.

Each episode is designed to spark reflection and encourage listeners to find clarity in a noisy world.

Guests will include folks from all walks of life and backgrounds.

The Straight Lines Podcast will be available on Apple and Spotify.

The internet radio version will be hosted on Saturday afternoons by WNEW in New York City.

Starting date and times are to be determined.

The link to hear what you can look forward to hearing with Neimans guests: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/straight-lines/id1833399261 College coaching legend retiring Ron Rohn, the winningest head coach in Muhlenberg College athletic history, will retire from the womens basketball program after 2025-26 season.

I still love coaching and working with our student-athletes day in and day out, Rohn said.

We have a great group of women on this team, and I feel that I could coach them for another 10-15 years.

But the reality is that coaching is a year-round vocation, most of the time 24/7.

There are just too many things on my bucket list that I want to get to at this point in my life, and I cant do them without short-changing the players on my team.

My fiance, Marybeth, and I love to travel, and I very much want to spend every moment that I can with her.

So once this season is over, we are going to start doing everything that we have been putting on hold.

Sadie Nelson, Rohns assistant the last two seasons, was named associate head coach and will take over the program for the 2026-27 season.

I feel that I will be leaving the current players and future recruits in good hands, with someone who will continue the winning tradition that we have created here, and just as essentially, maintain the positive culture of academic/career success and close friendships/team chemistry that is important to all of our players, Rohn said.

Knowing that this will be an easier transition for our players was very important to me.

Rohn enters his final season with a career record of 427-188 (.694) in 23 seasons.

No other Muhlenberg coach has more than 311 wins.

Rohn led the Mules to eight Centennial Conference championships, nine NCAA Tournament bids, two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances, and 11 seasons of 20 or more wins.

The two-time CC coach of the year has produced 44 all-conference selections and eight All-America selections in addition to the all-time CC leaders in points, 3-pointers, assists and triple-doubles.

Rohn made an immediate impact when he was hired in 2001.

The Mules set a school record by winning their first 13 games and climbed as high as No.

8 in the Division III poll.

In his third season, Rohn introduced a fast-paced style of play based on constant pressure, frequent substitutions and 3-point shooting.

Muhlenberg led all three NCAA divisions in scoring that year (90.8 points per game) and shattered numerous school records.

It was defense, however, that gave Rohn his first CC championship.

In 2006, the Mules were 26-3 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a team that held opponents to 52.1 points per game, at the time a record for the shot-clock era.

Muhlenberg also won the CC title in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history in 2009.

That years team was the first (and still only) one in CC history to go undefeated through leagues regular season and playoffs and ranked 14th in final Division III poll.

The Mules returned to the Sweet 16 in 2011, and from 2015 to 2017 became the first CC basketball team (mens or womens) to win three consecutive championships.

The 2016 squad finished 25-3 and ranked 14th in the final Division III poll.

Rohn, who previously coached at Hofstra and Colgate, recorded the 500th college win in 2024-25.

I am sure there will be time to look back and reflect on all that Muhlenberg womens basketball has achieved during my time here ...

all of the championships, the exciting games, Rohn said.

I will look back with strong emotions at the many wonderful people I got to know at the college, and most importantly every single player and parent that I have been blessed with.

But for now, I am totally focused on preparing this team for the coming season, and doing everything we can to win a Centennial Conference championship with our current team.

They deserve my best and I am committed to giving them my very best.

Death in the officials family Longtime football, wrestling and softball official Kevin Hoffman passed away Monday morning after a battle with stomach cancer.

The 64-year-old Northampton graduate was well liked and well respected by his peers, coaches and all those who came across him on the fields and mats.

Nazareth blue to Navy blue Nazareth senior wrestler Cade Campbell recently announced his commitment to the United States Naval Academy where hell compete for coach Cary Kolats program.

Campbell is 95-33 in his career and finished fifth in the state last season in Class 3A at 152 pounds.

He also was a District 11 and Northeast Regional champion.

The three-time district and regional medalist and two-time state qualifier was 40-7 as a junior for coach Dave Crowells Blue Eagles.

Who will be the lucky fan? Barring a rainout, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs will welcome their 10 millionth fan at Coca-Cola Park when they host the Toledo Mud Hens on Tuesday, Sept.

2, at 6:45 p.m.

The IronPigs, in their 17th season, are believed to be the fastest modern-era Minor League Baseball franchise to draw 10 million fans.

Lehigh Valley has averaged more than 8,500 fans per game in that span.

It has drawn 9,997,521 total fans to date, just 2,479 shy of the milestone.

To be welcoming our 10 millionth fan in just our 17th season is an absolute blessing, IronPigs President and General Manager Kurt Landes said.

Were beyond grateful for every single one of our guests who have joined us on this journey.

This milestone reflects the unwavering support, loyalty, and passion of the entire community.

The 10 millionth fan will receive IronPigs gifts, including 2026 season tickets and a jersey commemorating the event plus various goodies from IronPigs sponsors.

The IronPigs lead all 120 MiLB teams this season in total attendance (490,201) as well as average attendance (8,308).

This is the 9th time they have led MiLB in overall or average attendance.

They have had 19 capacity sellouts (10,100 fans) this season and 33 sellouts (8,364 fans).

This brings the total to 276 capacity sellouts all-time, 683 sellouts all-time.

Honored Saucon Valleys Braden Rohn was named the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation player of the week from among the 34 area eligible teams.

The junior quarterback ran for 168 yards and three touchdowns and threw for 161 more and a TD in a 42-21 home win over Bangor.

Senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at [email protected].

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