Interim head coaches take the helm for EA hoops

Grace VanderWaag ’26
Ryan Wen ’27

Entering this winter season, both the Boys’ and Girls’ Varsity basketball teams at the Episcopal Academy have hired new interim Head Coaches. Both coaches are former assistants of their respective teams, and have already hit the ground running since stepping into their new positions. Coach Ryan “Fitz” Fitzpatrick leads the boys with his enthusiasm as one of Episcopal’s youngest head coaches, and Coach David Kalman’s calm leadership aids the girls to become more focused and determined players. 

Kalman didn’t have the typical path to becoming a head coach, as his youth career looks different from what one might expect. Kalman grew up playing basketball after being introduced to the sport by his dad, but his career ended when he began high school at the Malvern Preparatory School. This however didn’t change his passion for the game, as he remarks, “I have always been in love with the sport.”

Following the death of beloved NBA star Kobe Braynt, Kalman was inspired to take up coaching. He recalls, “I started reading up a lot about like Kobe and what he was doing for girls sports and his daughter. I have two daughters myself so that inspired me to really focus on the power of girls sports, specifically basketball.” His players certainly feel his dedication to empowering female athletics as senior captain Caitlin McCarthy ’26 remarks, “He is very dedicated and passionate. He really cares for every single one of us and wants every single person on the team to improve and succeed.”

Kalman only began working at Episcopal last season as an assistant coach, but since then he has already had a pivotal mark on the program. McCarthy adds, “Everybody really wants to be there, which is huge. Coach David keeps things really competitive but also really fun, and this has already shown in some of our first games that have gone really well.”

Looking ahead, Kalman has several goals for the team. He concludes,  I think we’re good enough to compete for an Inter-AC championship. But, more importantly, I want everybody to look back at the end of the season in 5  or 10 years from now, and be happy that they were part of this team.”

Kalman’s vision has already begun shaping the Girls’ team, and on the other side of the Competition Gym Fitzpatrick has done the same. Fitzpatrick has been playing basketball since he was five years old. He attended Spring Ford Highschool and then he went on to play at Elizabethtown College. He states, “I was always just really grateful to be out there and be able to compete.”

His competitive spirit carried into his coaching career, which began during his time in college. Fitzpatrick recalls, “when I was in college I started to run a basketball training business. I did training locally in my area.” This led Fitzpatrick to TBB Basketball, a local program run by Seth Burner. Here, he had the opportunity to work with some of Philadelphia’s favorite professional players including Colin Gillespie and Paul Reed. He describes this experience, stating, “you see their levels of intensity and focus and I think it’s something that we really try to take pride in at Episcopal.”

Fitzpatrick was led to Episcopal shortly after being an assistant coach for Penn State Abbington. He remarks, “once I got to Episcopal, I felt like I was at home right away.” As he steps into his new position, Fitzpatrick has leaned on what he learned as a collegiate player to guide his team. Reggie King ’26 states, “he knows everything about basketball. If he’s telling us how to do a certain move, he can do it too. It’s pretty cool to see and have a coach that really knows what he’s talking about.”

As both programs settle into the rhythm of the new season, the impact of these two new leaders is already evident on both courts. Kalman and Fitzpatrick bring different styles, backgrounds, and philosophies to their coaching roles, yet they both share a deep commitment to elevating their players and strengthening the culture of Episcopal’s basketball programs. Their enthusiasm and genuine care have already had an impact on their respective teams and lays the foundation for the rest of the winter season.