JACKSON TWP — Dorothea Epps is back in the game.

The former Butler High School girls basketball coach — who resigned that position Nov. 10 — has been approved as an assistant coach at Seneca Valley.

Epps will assist Raiders girls basketball coach Rob Lombardo.

“Rob and I are good friends,” Epps said. “We coach the same way and our systems are similar. It’s a good fit.”

Epps becomes the third former girls head coach on Lombardo’s staff, joining Ron Kelm (Freedom, West Allegheny) and Jane Leo (Seneca Valley).

“There’s a wealth of knowledge there,” Lombardo said. “I don’t run a dicatorship here. My assistant coaches have the freedom to make corrections at various work stations and drills.

“Dorothea brought a new energy to the gym the day she walked in here. She walked in here and just started coaching.”

Seneca Valley is coming off a 13-10 season and has lost in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs each of the past two years. The Raiders did not make the playoffs for eight straight years.

“This is a talented team that I believe is capable of winning the section,” Epps said. “My goal is to help them do that.”

Seneca Valley’s girls have not won a section basketball title since 1977. The Raiders host their own tip-off tournament this weekend and face Burrell tonight.

“We’ve got a legitimate shot at it, once we get everyone healthy and on the same page,” Lombardo said of the section title. “We’re trying to take that next step. This could be a very exciting year for Seneca Valley girls basketball.”

Epps is happy to be along for the ride.

“I’m having fun again,” Epps said. “I’m getting to just coach and that’s what I love to do.

“I still love the girls at Butler. I wish nothing but the best for them. It was simply in my best interest and theirs that we separate.”

Epps was 159-120 in 12 years as head coach at Butler.