Pascack Valley Girls Basketball Head Coach Jeff Jasper has been at the helm for the past 51 years. In this time period, he has racked up plenty of awards, including sectional titles, group titles, Bergen County titles and dozens of coaching awards.

However, this spring, Jasper received the first ever Lifetime Achievement Award from the New Jersey Basketball Coaches Association. 

Jasper remains humble when talking about the award, despite being one of the inaugural winners. According to the New Jersey Basketball Coaches Association, they honored Jasper for his work of “promoting basketball, the growth of the game, his resume and length of service both on and off the court.”

Along with Jasper, New Jersey coaching legend at St. Anthony’s High School in New Jersey, Bobby Hurley was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. 

In addition to being good friends, Jasper values Hurley’s knowledge and love for the game, admiring Hurley’s achievements as well. 

The Lifetime Achievement Award signifies Jasper’s commitment to the game of basketball and his numerous awards and achievements.

“It’s a body of work. Not being judged by a championship or a number of wins. It is really [because] of a consistent career,” Jasper said.

Yet, Jasper values that  basketball has the ability to teach lessons and encourage growth in student-athletes through competition and sport.

When Jasper received the award, he responded with, “Seriously, why me?” Creating a girls basketball program in 1973, winning 14 sectional titles and six group titles, along with notching 1,100 plus wins earned his name a place in the category of a lifetime achiever. 

“I didn’t achieve this success because I am a good-looking guy,” Jasper said with a laugh. “It is because of the kids I have had as players and assistant coaches who have been a part of the Long Gold Line.”

The Long Gold Line represents an intangible path every girls basketball player who plays Pascack Valley joins, bonding the girls that started the program in 1973, to the ones that play in 2024. 

“They are all connected,” Jasper said. 

Some may believe that winning the Lifetime Achievement Award signifies that Jasper is at the end of his career. However, he has no plans of slowing down.

“There’s a part to it that says ‘wait a minute, does this mean I’m at the end of my career?’ because no I am not,” Jasper said.

Jasper feels immense gratitude for being chosen to receive this award. 

“It is truly an honor,” Jasper said.