What is your favorite aspect of being a coach?
For me, coaching is a calling and it's all about the people and the relationships. Those are the things you remember and they can stay with you for a lifetime. Basketball has been a huge blessing in my life, and I wouldn't trade the people I've met along the way for anything. That's family for me. Every day as coaches, we have the opportunity to cultivate relationships and come into contact with all sorts of people from all walks of life. There's a lot of opportunity in that.
What do you like about being a head coach at Bryn Athyn?
The people make the place, and I think it's our students, our faculty, and our administrators who make Bryn Athyn so special. When I got here in October, right before the season, we hit the ground running, and the people on this campus were so amazing and helpful. There are people here that care so much about the success of our student-athletes, and that inspires us all to do more. It's an honor to work with our players and keep building this program.
What is your favorite moment as an athlete?
I'm going to go back to my freshman year of college. It was my mom's birthday and we had a home game so she had come down with my stepdad. I scored my first college points that game, baseline jumper, bottom of the net. My mom has been my biggest support in my basketball career, and to be able to share that moment with her I think was so special.
What is your favorite coaching moment?
There have been so many great moments, winning championships and coaching in state tournaments as a high school coach, moving on to my first game as a college coach in the Preseason WNIT right here in Philadelphia against Saint Joseph's, and then a Postseason WNIT game at Duquesne later that year. I remember coaching against my alma mater, Radford University, back in 2016, and cutting down the nets winning the SSAC Championship with Loyola before and NAIA Sweet 16 run. But if I had to pick just one, give me November 20, 2019, my first win as the head coach right here at Bryn Athyn, right here at home in Asplundh Field House in front of our fans and campus community. That was a special moment in my journey for sure.
What do you like to do outside of your sport?
Most people that know me would tell you I love to stay active, whether that's playing basketball or whatever sport I can jump in on, hitting the gym, going on runs, or anything else that challenges me and keeps me moving. I'm blessed to have friends all over the country and have lived all over, so I'm a bit of a domestic travel extraordinaire. One of these years I hope to finally take a trip or two abroad as well. For me, I'm always up for an adventure and just making memories.
What inspired you to get into coaching?
I was 16 when I volunteered in the sports department at my local YMCA for the summer. They had me coach a co-ed middle school summer league team. From there, I never looked back. I took a job with the Y that fall, and the following summer, I ran my own basketball camp there. To me, just loving the game, I knew I always wanted to keep it in my life. Even coming out of college, after my playing days were over, I was working in broadcast journalism, but still coaching high school basketball, on the side so to speak. I always say you never know where the game will take you, but if you love it and treat it right, it can take you everywhere. It's about the journey.
What is your favorite bus activity?
You know, our bus rides here in the CSAC are relatively short compared to some other places I've coached. I've done those 11 and a half hour trips too. For me, I try unsuccessfully to sleep. Also, it's a great time to review a scouting report, watch game film, and get on the phone with recruits, coaching friends, and whoever else. I think my players give me a hard time because I still have an iPod that I'll be listening to as well, so I'm totally old school.
What is currently sitting in your Netflix queue?
I haven't been a Netflix subscriber for many years. I don't really have a ton of time for it. But I was able to catch Tiger King here during this quarantine time. As a former journalist, I enjoyed the documentary-style of it, and I'm always in for some good laughs!
What coaches influenced you and your coaching style?
There are so many. When I was a player, I always took the things I liked and took the things maybe I didn't like, and I wrote them all down in my basketball journal. I had some very influential coaches during my high school years- Charles Payton and Robert Hill at Matoaca High School, and guys like Mike Davis and John "Sarge" Siers in the offseason and on the AAU and camp circuit. Those coaches left their imprints on me as a player and now coach, but also as a person, and a Christian. All of my stops in my coaching career have been learning experiences as well, and the people I've worked for and worked with have each molded me in different ways.
What would your advice be to a prospective student-athlete who is interested in coming to Bryn Athyn
My advice would be -- come join us at Bryn Athyn! The mission of the college speaks for itself, and there are so many people here who are strong in their faith and in their pursuit to help you get to where you want to be. It's one of those places you have to come and see for yourself. Our academic programs are top of the line, and our faculty is invested in developing the whole person. I'm excited about the future of our program, and the future is bright!