Coaches
Current Coaches Gibrane Adams Larry Averill Kindyll Dorsey Mark Hayner Jenn Hogan Kara Leary Cassie Loftus Joe Mason Maria Noucas Former Coaches Michael Cimino Michaela Leary Eric Vallecillo Michele Cernuda Maria Noucas Maria is entering her second year coaching in the Crusader program working with the Crusader Portland team. Maria currently plays for the perennial powerhouse, Bowdoin Women's Basketball team after starring at Portsmouth HS in Portsmouth, NH during her high school days. Maria continues on the strong tradition of the Noucas name coaching in bball as her uncle is the long-time coach at Nashua HS and currently a coach on the Rivier College men's staff. Maria also played for the Crusaders during her prep career. Cassie Loftus Cassie Loftus enters her second year coaching in the Crusader program. This year she is the Head Coach of the Crusader Teal team after assisting Jenn Hogan with the Crusader Orange team last year. Cassie just finished up a strong career at St Anselm's College. Cassie is no stranger to success as she was a 3 time state title winner while playing for the unified Nashua HS -- graduating in 2004. Cassie is off to Springfield College next year as a graduate assistant for the Springfield College woman's basketball team. Cassie is pursing her masters in education. Jenn Hogan Jenn Hogan is the current Head Coach at Nashua South HS. and former Southern NH University and Nashua HS star. Jenn is in her second year with the Crusader programs after finishing up her collegiate career last year. Jenn played for the Crusaders on the club side while in high school. Also, Jenn is one of the primary instructor's in the Crusaders partner --- ACE/New England Skills Academy skill development program. Jenn is a teacher in Manchester. Michaela Leary Michaela is a former George Washington and Nashua HS star. Michaela is also the former BG varsity coach finishing up her tenure during the winter of 2008. Michaela has assisted the Crusader program director while playing ball collegiately and was a big driver behind the success of the strength of the Class of 2007 from the Crusader program where 20+ athletes entered the D1/D2/D3 collegiate ranks. Michaela had worked with the core group of those players since they were rising freshman in high school. Also, Michaela played for the Crusaders on the club side while in high school. Michaela has moved to DC where she is an English teacher. Mike Cimino Mike coached various Crusader teams from 2003-2007 within the New England Crusaders. Whether the head coach of the Crusader White ('10/'11) team back in 2006 or filling in various times for the Crusader Blue ('06/'07) team in 2005 and 2006 or for the Crusader Blue ('09/'10) team this past spring, the former Bently grad played a big part in the development of many of the Crusaders over the past several years. Mike coached a Maine AAU team prior to the 2003 season on the girls side. He coached a Maine AAU team on the boys side during the 2007 season. The former Bentley grad, provided a great (yet competitive) environment for the players to develop and hone their skills. Former players that played under Mike's direction now play at Stanford, Boston College, Villanova, and Bowdoin, among others. Mike also provided tremendous mentorship and training for our young coaches, many of whom were current college players at the time. Mike lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on Nov. 6th, 2008. He will be deeply missed by all the players and families who had the good fortune of knowing him. Eric Vallecillo Eric Vallecillo is the former varsity coach at Bishop Guertin high school. Eric helped build the program into a state title contender leading BG to the Class L final game in 2006 and 2007 after taking over the program in 2001. Eric has coached in the Crusader program the last three spring seasons, and has been a key instructor in the Crusader/ACE Skills Academy and Summer PowerSkillz program. Eric and his family have moved to South Carolina where he is a guidance counselor.
Kara Leary Kara has a successful and long history in girls and women's basketball over the last fifteen years as a player and as a coach. As a coach, Kara has successfully built the Crusaders program into a recognized group throughout the country.  Her teams over the last ten years have captured numerous AAU and travel team titles and accolades including a AAU National Championship, a USJN tourney championship, a Boo Williams Tourney Championship, and numerous AAU state titles. The program's emphasis on developing players by focusing on fundamentals and team play has been a successful formula for many of the Crusaders players that now are playing at the collegiate level.  Over 40+ former Crusaders are playing or will be playing at the Division I or Division II level while getting their education fully or partially financed including Brown University, UConn, Boston College, Holy Cross, Tulane, Xavier, Vermont, St. Bonaventure, Maine, Virginia, Stanford, Xavier, Merrimack College, Bentley College to name a few.  In addition, many of the program's players have been recognized as the top players in their states, regions, and the country. Many of the program's players have been recognized as All State/All Scholastic, State Players of the Year, and national All Americans. On the club side, not only has Kara coached her team to a national championship (the only known New England based AAU National Championship on the girls basketball side) and numerous top finishes at national club tournaments, she has coached for USA Basketball as the Head Coach of the East squad in 2003 for the inaugural USA Developmental Festival for the country's top 48 rising seniors. And, Kara has rounded out her coaching experience with stints as a coach at the prestigious Nike All American Camp (2003 & 2004) for the top 80 prep players in America and the NIKE Regional Skills Academy - East (2007) for the top 40 prospects in the Eastern Region. On the high school side, Kara coached at Nashua High School from 1999-2001.   Over her two year tenure as the coach of Nashua HS,  her teams compiled a 42-0 record in the state of NH (46-4 overall) and captured two NH Class L State Championships and two Top 20 National Rankings by USA Today and other national publications.  For her efforts, Kara was named 2001 WBCA District I Coach of the Year. As a player in college, Kara played for Muffet McGraw at the University of Notre Dame.   As three year starter, Kara helped the Irish squad to three conference championships and three postseason appearances during her career.  Kara captained the Irish teams during her junior and senior season before graduating in 1994. She then went on to play professionally in Switzerland for one season. On the prep side, Kara played under the legendary John Fagula at Nashua HS in Nashua, NH.   Kara played the point guard position and helped the Nashua program capture two state titles and two national rankings during her career.  She was an All State performer for Nashua who was recognized as an All American by Converse when they named her NH Player of the Year during her senior year.