Keith Brandon (Head Men's Lacrosse Coach)

Penn State Abington has named Keith Brandon as its first-ever head men’s lacrosse coach. The school previously announced it was beginning a varsity men’s lacrosse program in Spring 2009 –the first time in school history.

Keith Brandon has an impressive athletic resume. A native of Hempstead, N.Y., Brandon attended Hobart College and was a two-sport athlete in football and lacrosse. He was named both Captain and All American in football and played defense for the Statesman lacrosse team. Upon graduation, Brandon accepted an assistantship at St. Lawrence University in football and lacrosse. During his time at St. Lawrence, the Saints’ lacrosse teams were ranked #16 in the nation and had back-to-back twelve win seasons. He graduated with a Master’s degree in Education in 2004.

Deborah C. Andress (Head Women's Lacrosse Coach)

Andress becomes the first head coach in the program’s history, as Penn State Abington announced the addition of the program earlier in January. Varsity play will begin in Spring 2009.

Andress brings an outstanding lacrosse background to the position. She has coached and/or played at nearly every level, from youth to national play. A former member of the United States Women’s Lacrosse Team Squad from 1980-1984, Andress also played for the Philly I and II club teams, perennial powerhouses in the sport. A graduate of Penn State, Andress played both field hockey and lacrosse for the Nittany Lions, and was a member of teams that won two AIAW National Championships during her tenure. She was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.

Dennis Weiner (Head Baseball Coach)

Entering his third season as the skipper of the Nittany Lions, Dennis brings a wealth of knowledge to the team. In 2007, Dennis’ team played incredible baseball, competing for a place in the PSUAC Final Four before falling to eventual PSUAC finalist PS-Delaware County in the last week of the season.

As player, he was the 2nd overall pick in the winter draft by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1969. After advancing several years in the minor leagues, he transitioned to the Jenkintown Quakers where he played for 22 years.

Employed as a Philadelphia Public School Health and Physical Education teacher for the past 28 years, Dennis brings a passion and love for the game to every practice. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Temple University and a master’s degree from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey). In his spare time, Dennis is an accomplished singer and directs the annual production of “Guys and Dolls” at his high school. Dennis currently resides in Philadelphia.

Kathy Drysdale (Head Women’s Baskeball Coach)

Entering her first season as head coach, Kathy brings a wealth of experience in the game of basketball to her position. A former four year letterwinner at Penn State-University Park, Kathy led her team to great heights, becoming the first women’s basketball team to be ranked #1 in the country. A 1,000 point scorer, Kathy continued her basketball playing career in Germany in 1992.

She has coached at Holy Family University (Phila.), Harriton High School and for the AAU Philadelphia Comets. She also spent 13 years working for the Philadelphia 76ers organization, most recently as Director of Basketball Game Operations. Kathy and her partner, Dereck Lively, reside in Media, PA (Delaware County) with their 3-year-old son, Dereck Lively, II. They have two dogs Shana (Siberian Husky) and Thor (Rottweiler Mix).

Ed Decker (Head Coach, Men’s and Women’s Golf)

Ed Decker begins his second season as head golf coach at Penn State Abington. After serving for eight years as the head coach for women’s basketball, Ed brings his talents and enthusiasm for the game of golf to the Abington program. A competitive golfer himself, Ed will work with Hugh Reilly, teaching pro at Twining Valley Golf Club in Dresher, Pa to develop Abington’s golf programs.

Ed is actively involved in the local community as a youth sports organizer and coach. He graduated from Cardinal Dougherty High School in Philadelphia and has worked at Penn State Abington as a building manager for the past 16 years. Ed, his wife Chris and their children reside in Willow Grove, Pa.

David Castellanos (Head Coach, Men’s and Women’s Soccer)

David begins his second season as the head men’s coach and his first in women’s soccer. In his first season as head coach of the men’s team, he led the team to the PSUAC Final Four. His soccer background is unparalleled—prior to playing in college for the University of Connecticut, he was a Parade and Umbro All American in high school at Christopher Dock in Lansdale, PA. In college, he played in 2 Final Fours and UConn won NCAA Division I National Championship in 2000. David also played for the Colorado Rapids MLS soccer team in 2004. Currently a midfielder for the 2007 World Champion Philadelphia Kixx professional indoor soccer team, David is passionate about developing Abington’s program into something great.

David currently resides in Philadelphia, where he is developing a series of soccer camps and clinics that will be based out of Penn State Abington.

Davon Ortega (Head Coach, Women’s Softball)

Davon enters her second season at the helm of the PS Abington softball program, after leading her team in one of the most remarkable single season turnarounds in Abington softball history. Davon took over a team that did not win conference game in 2006, and led it to almost attaining a post season playoff spot by the end of the season. She returns nearly her entire squad for the 2008 season.

Prior to her time in Abington, she spent two years as a graduate assistant at Drexel University. A four-year starter and letterwinner in softball for Lehigh University, Davon led her team to its first ever NCAA Tournament appearances. In addition, she played on the Colorado Comets, a high level travel team out of her home state of Colorado. Davon currently lives in Philadelphia, where she also is a web content editor for Comcast.

Bob Barton (Head Coach, Team Tennis)

On a roll...Penn State Abington Tennis has won three PSUAC Tournament Championships and two Conference Championships over the past three seasons (28-4 record). Abington's tennis success has come from their outstanding depth on both the men's and women's side. The highly competitive Abington teams have been blessed with on-court "freshmen to senior" skills, leadership and sportsmanship. The PSUAC Tennis format requires both men's and women's singles and doubles competition during the fall semester.

Beginning his 19th year as head coach, there isn't much that Bob Barton hasn't done for Penn State Abington. A former head menís basketball coach, baseball coach, softball coach, and athletics director, Bob is a senior instructor in kinesiology who teaches several fitness/wellness courses as well as team sports and tennis. His enthusiasm for teaching, learning and doing things the right way are his trademarks.

Bob is graduate of Penn State Ogontz, Temple University and Frankford High School in Philadelphia. He and his wife, Mac, have four grown children (all Penn State graduates) and reside in Abington (Overlook Hills), Pa.

Jamal Corbin (Head Coach, Women’s Volleyball)

Jamal is in his 8th year as head coach of the varsity women’s volleyball team team. He also was the head coach at Abington High School.

A graduate of Penn State, Jamal leads his teams with a strong tactical knowledge of the game as well as compassion and support for his players. His teams have been known for their competitive and tenacious play. Jamal resides in Horsham, Pa.

Marianne Crawford (Head Coach, Cheerleading)

Marianne Crawford enters her 8th year as the cheerleading coach for Penn State Abington. Her passion and love of the sport is evident from the moment she begins a practice. Her 24 cheerleaders from the 2006-07 squad represented Penn State Abington at everything from basketball games to Thanksgiving Day parades. A leader among conference cheerleading coaches, she is well known in the sport. She coached at Cardinal Dougherty High School in Philadelphia and coordinates the All-Catholic League Cheerleading Competition held at Penn State Abington for the past several years.

Marianne currently works full time for a construction company; prior to that, she taught Physical Education in an elementary school for 7 years. Marianne and her husband currently reside in Southampton, Pa.

Kevin Larkin (Coach , Men's Volleyball)

Kevin Larkin begins his first year as the head coach of the Penn State Abington Men's Volleyball Club Team. His background includes a stint as the head coach of the Penn State Harrisburg Women's Volleyball Team in 2005-2006, and assistant men's coach at Penn State Abington this past year. Kevin is a graduate of Penn State Abington (2001) with a bachelor's degree in American Studies and a minor in English. He lives in Bensalem, PA.