EPHRATA — The Ephrata School District announced the hiring of a new varsity baseball coach Wednesday, with David Tempel being named the new head coach of the Tiger baseball program.

“As a player and assistant under Coach Dave Johnson and then Coach Jason Laugen, I fully appreciate the tradition and pride associated with Ephrata Tiger Baseball,” Tempel said in a release by the ESD. “I’m looking forward to taking on this new challenge and leading the Tigers. Creating a positive environment and impacting the lives of the young men that participate in this sport and all of those at the high school is important to me. I’m excited to get started.”

Tempel has served as an assistant baseball coach for 19 years with the Tigers, as well as an assistant coach with the Ephrata football program since 2001, and is currently in a role as the team’s defensive coordinator. A 2000 graduate of Ephrata High School, Tempel was a member of Ephrata’s 1999 state championship-winning baseball team.

“David has a passion for student success both in the classroom and on the field,” Ephrata Athletic Director Bryan Johnson said in the release. “He also understands the great tradition of Ephrata baseball and is excited to lead the program. We are looking forward to watching and supporting what he does in this new position, and are excited to promote him as our next head coach.”

Baseball practice begins Feb. 25, 2024, with the season opening March 9. The Ephrata School District will hire three high school assistant coaches for the varsity, junior varsity and C-squad team in the coming weeks. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/46zguVy.