Lancaster Bible College Athletics

The 2013-14 campaign will be Coach Helsel's fourth season at LBC. During the 2012-13 season, Helsel guided the Chargers to their first appearance in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. The Chargers won the NEAC Championship and the NCCAA East Region Title, securing 24 wins against just five losses. 

Helsel played his college basketball at Messiah College (’93), where he earned his B.A. in English. He taught high school English for 13 years before finishing his M.Ed. in Secondary School Counseling at Millersville University (’05). Currently, Coach Helsel serves as a guidance counselor at Conestoga Valley High School, where he teaches Career Education and manages a caseload of approximately 375 students. At C.V., he has also served as the Fellowship of Christian Students Club advisor.

Helsel’s 15-year coaching career began at Susquehanna Township High School, as the boys’ junior varsity and assistant varsity coach. In his first year there, Helsel assisted Coach Emery Cook in winning the District III championship and finishing the season in the PIAA State Final Four. Helsel later coached at Red Land HS and Conestoga Valley HS, switching over to coach girls in 1997. At Conestoga Valley, Helsel coached two teams that won Lancaster-Lebanon League Section Championships (2003-04 & 2005-2006).  He coached one year at Franklin & Marshall College as an Assistant Men’s Coach [under the legendary Glenn Robinson].

Helsel’s passions in and outside coaching basketball are his love of teaching and his heart to guide future Christian leaders.  He and his wife Heather have 3 daughters: Hollyn (8), Ainslee (6), and Brynnah (4). He is a member of Calvary Church in Lancaster and teaches in his Adult Bible Fellowship as well as his daughters’ Sunday School classes.