City Rocks Coaches

Jim Hart, President

Jim has been acting as a coach and President of the City Rocks since 1993. During that time the City Rocks have grown from 5 teams to 20. Hart has led his City Rocks teams to numerous titles including several Adirondack AAU championships, New York State AAU championships as well as several prestigious National tournament titles (Gym Rat, Rumble in the Bronx, 5 Star Classic, Spiece, Adidas East Coast Challenge, Hall of Fame Classic, and Boo Williams). Hart last year served as the only AAU coach on staff at the NIKE All American Camp. He also was the winning coach in the first annual NY State vs. Big Apple All Star Game.

Jim is a Senior Vice President at Morgan Stanley. A graduate of Fordham University, Jim earned a bachelor's degree in finance and quantitative analysis. Jim is also active in the community. serves on the Board of Directors of Albany P.A.L., coaches at Albany Academy for boys in addition to St Catherine of Siena and volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House and Equinox.

Carmen Maciariello, Vice President

• Coached At Siena College (Director of Basketball Operations) 2005-2006
• Player Professionally in Italy 2001-2005
• Played Division One Basketball - University of New Hampshire 1996-1999, Siena College 1999-2001
• MAAC Regular Season Co-Champion 2000-01
• Siena's Rev. Benjamin Kuhn Student Athlete Award
• MAAC Scholar Athlete, Graduated Magna Cum Laude (3.56 GPA)
• All Tournament Team Jones Inter Cable Classic @ University of New Mexico (1998-1999)
• All Tournament Team Mohegan Sun Classic @ Central Connecticut State University (1998-1999)
• Section 2 Champion Shenendehowa HS 1996
• Suburban Council Player of the Year 1995-1996
• Times Union Co Player of the Year 1995-1996
• Holds Consecutive Free Throw Record at Shen with 32 (1995-96 Season)
• Top 5 Single Season Scoring @ Shenendehowa (1995-1996)
• 8th Single Season in Steals@ Shenendehowa (1995-1996)

Gus Thompson

• Delmar, NY
• 15 years as volunteer coach
• 10 years as head coach with the Albany Youth Basketball Program
• 9 years as head coach of the Albany City Rocks
• 4 years as head coach of CYO in Hyde Park, NY
• 1 year as assistant coach of Bethlehem in-house basketball program
• Government positions: Commissioner for Albany County Department for Children Youth and Families, Deputy Commissioner for Programs and Services for the NYS Office of Programs and Services, Executive Director of the Niagara Falls Youth Bureau - Niagara Falls, NY

Ralph Tucker

• Albany, New York
• 9yrs. coaching with the City Rocks
• Head Girls JV Coach at Albany High School
• IAABO Basketball Official for 8 years
• Assistant & Director for the Albany Sal Garufi High School Summer Basketball League for 7 years
• Employed by Verizon for 19 yrs
• Married with two children
• Volunteer of many youth programs throughout the Capital District Region.

Donald Reinhardt

• Albany, NY
• Coaching with the City Rocks for 5 years and coaching youth sports for 20 years
• Work - Dreyer Boyajian LLP
• Married with two daughters
• My primary function with the City Rocks is working with college coaches with the goal of helping our kids get to the next level.

G. Bernett Marion, Sr.

A native of Savannah, Georgia and the father of three, Savannah, OmarAsanti and Matthew-Razzi, Bernett has been involved in the administrative/operational side of the City Rocks for the past several years as well active in local youth sports and regional AAU Boys-basketball administration.

Bernett is the current chair of the NYS Training Council and is employed as the Director of Training and Affirmative Action for the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services.

Bernett has also served on a number of boards such as the NAACP and the Corporate Board for the Capital District YMCA. Bernett is graduate of Upsala College, with a BA in Political Science.

Tim Kindlon

• Delmar, NY
• 2nd year with the City Rocks
• 1 year assistant Union College
• Worked a number of basketball camps throughout the northeast
• Played basketball at Bethlehem High School and Hartwick College
• Employment: Rotterdam Academy II

Gary Barnaba

• Resides in Syracuse, NY
• 35th year coaching
• Commissioner of Jim Boeheim's Big Orange Basketball Camps in the Carrier Dome
• Owner/Operator "Mr. B's Skills and Drills Basketball Camps"
• Chairman, Health and Physical Education, Christian Brothers Academy / Syracuse
• 2nd year with the Rocks / involved with AAU basketball for 20 years
• 30+ years involvement with Syracuse University Mens' Basketball
• Wife, Sheila Barnaba, is a secretary for Coach Boeheim
• I have taken basketball teams to Germany, France and Italy for competition
• I initiated and developed the youth program for the Rony Seikaly camps in Beruit, Lebanon
• I am a member of a small group honored as "Distinguished LaSallian Educators" in the U.S.

Darryl Caldwell

• 3rd yr. as an assistant coach (all w/City Rocks).
• Worked 7yrs. as the Director of the Sal Garufi High School Summer Basketball League ran by the City of Albany Department of Parks & Recreation.
• Worked 4 years as an IAABO Official (10 yrs. overall).
• Currently assists in the All-American Sports Men's Basketball League.
• Has worked last 6 years with the Jerry Jennings High School Basketball League.
• Currently works part time with kids at the VI Community Center (City of Albany).
• Has been employed 14 years at MapInfo Corporation.

DeSona "Onion" Welch

• Lifelong Albany resident
• 4 years with the City Rocks
• Director of various men's basketball leagues throughout the Albany area
• Player recruiter for the City Rocks
• Employed as a barber for 9 years
• Starting new employment soon with the Albany School District
• 3 kids, 5, 11 & 13

Ed Malone

• Albany, NY
• 17 years coaching experience CYO, Capital District League, Basketball Camps, High School, AAU - 5 years with City Rocks
• Director - Menands Youth Basketball League since 1990
• Co-Founder/Director - Player Development Basketball Camps
• Director - Players Choice 1 College Showcase - for high school student/athletes
• Sports management experience: Times Union Camp Manager for NY Giants Summer Training Camp at UAlbany; Event Director - All About Kids Show-"Good Sports"; AAU and NCAA Tournament Director at various colleges in NY and NJ.
• Past chairman of Adirondack Association AAU
• BA. Marketing, SUNY Albany
• Regional Manager - Prime Care Medical Equipment
• Married to Gail, 2 kids - Sara and Brendan
• Community service: Center for the Disabled, WGY Christmas Wish, and NFL's Caring for Kids

Larry Ritter

• Niskayuna NY
• Resides with his lovely wife, Diana Jones Ritter and two sons, Larry Jr 18, and Kameron ,14.
• BA in Business Administration w/ a minor in Coaching Team Sports from North Adams State College, North Adams , Mass
• Over 25 years of coaching experience( 9 years with the City Rocks program) at AAU , Junior and Senior high school levels and college coaching experience.
• Possesses a certificate in Teaching Sports and Diversity.
• Employed by the NYS Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance as the Director of EEO and Diversity Planning.

John Carmello

• Employment: Principal of Troy High School
• Played basketball at Albany High School and the University at Albany
• First Team Academic All-American as Senior in College
• Coached at Colonie High School for 12 years (JV and Assistant Varsity)
• Coached North Colonie CDYBL team for five years
• Second year with City Rocks (led 13U team to Adirondack league 14U division II championship last year)
• Has run several summer basketball camps
• Married to wife Amy, with three sons, Corey, Justin, and Ryan

Tom Alexander

Tom enters his sixth year as a City Rock Head Coach. He has permanent certification in physical education and a master's degree in counselor education. Additionally, Tom has over 20 years of experience in all aspects of counseling and advising traditional and non-traditional student populations covering college admissions, academic, financial aid, personal, social, and career advisement. Tom has helped our teams earn countless tourney championships including 6 regional AAU championships, 1 NYS AAU Championship, and coached 4 teams to the National AAU Championships.

Garry G. Horne

• 2005-2006 Bishop Gibbons High school Head varsity Coach
• 2003- 2005 Bishop Gibbons High School Head JV Coach
  coached and trained kids in basketball and Martial arts and life skills for over 20 years.
• 1996-2006 Youth Basketball the last ten years 4th - 8th grade
• 1997-2003 Albany county Heat Basketball President and head Coach 10u-17u
• 2004-2006 City Rocks AAU 12U 13U 17U
• Place of employment Albany County Sheriff's Department

Terrance Florence

• Rensselaer, NY
• 1 1/2 years of coaching
• 2005-2006 season- Head Coach for Albany Academy Modified Team/Assistant Coach for Freshman Team
• 2004-2005 season- Assistant Coach for the Albany Academy Freshman Team
• 2005- Davies AC Assistant Coach for the 16U team
• Coordinator and coach of YMCA - Schenectady Branch YBL
• Also conducted various Basketball Clinic's (2005).
• Member of two consecutive Central Jersey Championships in High School. 1997-1998,1998-1999 seasons
• Job: Student
• First Year with City Rocks

Stephen Chapple

• Resides in Albany, NY
• 8 yrs. of coaching Basketball
• 13 yrs. of coaching Little League
• 3 yrs. of coaching City Rocks
• Work: Intermagnetics, TKO Building Services
• Wife: Janel Chapple
• 3 sons: Lamar (22), Tricel (18), William (14); 2 daughters: Keirra (17), Aryel (16); 3 Grandchildren
• I enjoy teaching kids how to play organized basketball and helping
  them to excel so that they can play high school and college basketball.

Wayne Pierre

• Coaching ( 2 yrs) Joined City Rocks coaching Boys 10U BLK team, now advancing to City Rocks Boys 11U BLK team.
• Coached : Albany Capitol District Youth Program boys (Assistant)
• Coached : Both boys and girls basketball programs for CYO leagues
• Coached Colonie Rec. Summer basketball program both boys and girls
• Coached : Little League, Minor League baseball & Rec. soccer programs
• Certified Section II - High School / Modified Boys soccer official
• Employed: N.Y. State Thurway Authority
• Married to Marcy , three children Katie, Amanda, and Mike

Chuck Hunt

• Played at LaSalle Institute, Troy and HVCC
• Coaching for the past 23 years, presently at Tamarac High School as Junior Varsity Head Coach.
• 2nd year with City Rocks.
• Employed by the N.Y.S. Dept. of Corrections.
• Married 20 years to Anna, 1 son Steve, 16.
• Section Director at Green Mountain Basketball Camp
• Volunteer at Annual Kids Count Clinic with Mike Deane and Tom Brennan.

Keith Danzy

• Albany, NY
• He has been Coaching AAU Girls for over 9yrs.
• Graduated from Gannon University BS Criminal Justice Minor in Business Administration currently attends Graduate School at Sage College.
• Played Div II Basketball on an athletic scholarship
• Works for the NYS Office of Children & Family Services (Child Protective Services) 9yrs.
• In 2003 Keith's 16/17 team was recognized nationally and awarded sponsorship by adidas.
• Keith is known for his ability to help student athletes enhance their individual skill development.
• 2nd year with the City Rocks
• Favorite quote: "Excellence is not an act, but a Habit"

Vince Askew

• Frayser High School, Memphis, TN
• College: University of Memphis
• 37th pick of the 1987 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers
• 2 time CBA MVP for the Albany Patroons (CBA) 1988-1990 Coached by George Karl
• 1990-92 NBA - Golden State Warriors Coached by Don Nelson
• 1992-96 NBA - Seattle Super Sonics Coached by George Karl
• 1996-98 NBA - Indiana Pacers Coached by Larry Brown
• 1998-99 NBA - Portland Trailblazers Coached by Mike Dunleavy
• 1999-2000 Italian First Division Fortitudo Bologna
• 2000-01 Greek First Division- Team Crete
• 2001-02 Head Coach Rossville Christian Academy (Coach of the Year) State Champs
• 2002-03 Head Coach Rossville Christian Academy (Coach of the Year) State Champs
• 2003-04 Independent Contractor Individual and Team Development
• 2004-05 Independent Contractor
• 2005-06 Head Coach and Head of Basketball Operations Tacoma Navigators (ABA)
• 2006-07 Independent Contractor
• 2007-08 Head Coach Albany Patroons (CBA)