An NCAA first: twin coaches at Arcadia and PSU Abington face off tonight

Twin brothers will coach against each other Tuesday evening in Abington — Adam Van Zelst for Arcadia, brother Ryan for Penn State Abington.

As far as either school knows, wrote the Inquirer, this is a first in NCAA basketball.

Adam is starting his fourth season as Arcadia’s head coach, and Ryan was a Scranton University assistant before his recent appointment with Penn State Abington. The Conwell-Egan High graduates from Levittown played together at Albright College in Reading and coached a year together as assistants for their alma mater.

“I’m two minutes older,” Adam told the Inquirer. “That, and I’m a better basketball player. Two things he can’t get away from.”

Yearbook photo from the Van Zelsts’ days at Conwell-Egan High

They have a close relationship which often involves hoops, and there’s probably no game this year that either brother will want to win more.

“I agree — that’s the catch,” Ryan said. “I know twins will always say they’re close. We’re very close. We both live in Conshohocken. I actually drive by Arcadia every single day. I stop by sometimes.”

For Adam, running Arcadia’s program has been a dream come true.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Arcadia. I love the people I work with, it’s a family environment where everyone supports one another,” he said. “It’s been a great place to work, and we have great coaches, administrators, and student-athletes. Time flies when you’re having fun, as they say. It feels like it’s been two weeks since I’ve gotten here.”

For more on the twins’ basketball matchup and background, you can read The Philadelphia Inquirer’s article here. Photos courtesy of the Inquirer.

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