Kara Leary

Kara has a successful history in girls and women's basketball over numerous years as a player and as a coach. She has successfully built the Crusaders program into a recognized group throughout the country.  Her teams over the years have captured numerous AAU and travel team titles and accolades including an 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 50+ former Crusaders are playing or will be playing at the Division I, II or Division III levels while getting their education fully or partially financed. Schools that former players are playing at are: Dartmouth, Harvard, Brown, Stanford, Virginia, Holy Cross and Boston College. 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 (Parade, McDonald’s, Gatorade, GameBall, etc)

Coaching on the club side (and beyond)

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McDonald’s All American National selection member

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Coached her team to a national championship (the only known New England based D1 AAU National Championship on the girls basketball side) in 2001

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Coached her teams to numerous at national club tournaments and AAU state tournaments leading her team to numerous titles including a USJN tournament championship, a Boo Williams Tournament Championship and numerous AAU state titles.

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Coached for USA Basketball as the Head Coach of the East squad in 2003 for the inaugural USA Developmental Festival.

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Multiple coaching stints at the Nike All American Camp (2003 & 2004) for the top 80 prep players in America

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Coached at the NIKE Regional Skills Academy - East (2007) for the top 40 prospects in the Eastern Region.

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Has two former players that were named McDonald’s All Americans (Nicole Wolfe –Uconn, Ashley Cimino – Stanford)

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Coached Stefanie Murphy – Boston College, the 2007-2008 ACC Rookie of the Year.

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Has numerous players who garnered All State, All Scholastic, and State Player of the Year for their respective states as well as numerous players who garnered All American award (Parade, McDonald’s , GameBall, etc)

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Holds her undergraduate degree from Notre Dame and holds a M.B.A from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College.

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Works in the technology sector, focusing primarily in the Oracle space

Coaching in high school

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Former Nashua High School head coach from where she compiled a 42-0 record in the state of NH (46-4 overall)

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Lone losses were at the Nike Tournament of Champions where her teams compiled a 4-4 record over a two year period, matching up against some of the country’s best including many nationally ranked programs.

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Captured two consecutive NH Class L State Championships and two consecutive Top 20 National Rankings by USA Today and other national publications. 

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Named 2001 WBCA District I Coach of the Year

Playing in college & high school

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Three year start and two year captain at the University of Notre Dame.

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Helped the Irish squad to three conference championships and three postseason appearances during her career. -

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Played professionally in Switzerland for one season after graduation

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Played the point guard position and helped the Nashua program capture two state titles and two USA Today national rankings during her career. 

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Captained the Nashua HS team that advanced to the NH Class L title game her senior year -

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An All State performer for Nashua HS

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Recognized as an All American by Converse when they named her NH Player of the Year during her senior year.

Mike Collins

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An all-state player in Wisconsin

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Three year letter winner at Division 1 Dartmouth, where he covered (with limited success) such players at John Paxton, Michael Jordan, Kenny Smith and Michelle Obama's brother

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Has been involved in AAU coaching with the Bedford Hustle for the past 3 years.

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His younger brother Steve, is one of the top high school boys coaches in the country, having coached 4 Wisconsin Players of the Year.

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His teams reflect his personality: intense, prepared, and aggressive. His team is highly organized, with 30% of practice time devoted to team concepts, 30% to strength, quickness, conditioning, and 40% to team basketball concepts

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Has management degree from Harvard Business School, and is a published author, holder of numerous patents, and a successful entrepreneur.

Kevin Gibbs

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Head Coach at Bishop Guertin HS girls team

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Former coach of the Bishop Guertin HS boys teams

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Brings 20 years of coaching experience to the Crusaders

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His boys AAU teams has won NH state titles and participated in AAU National Championships

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His girls AAU teams have won two NH state titles and earned top five and top three finishes at the AAU D2 National Championships as well as a third place finish at the USJN Nationals in 2008

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Has coached numerous youth and travel teams

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Has served on the Board of Directors for the Bedford Basketball League and the Bedford Friends of Recreation.

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His goal is for each of his players to enjoy the game of basketball and bring their game to the next level

Mark Hayner

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Brings over a dozen years of coaching experience to the Crusaders, having coached in town recreation, travel, and AAU basketball programs. His AAU coaching experience includes 1 year with the New England Crusaders (2008), 5 years with the NH Shooting Stars (2003-2007), 2 years with the Granite State Rockettes (2001-2002), and 1 year with the NH Lightning (2000)

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Team accomplishments include: 3rd place at the 2008 USJN Hershey National Showcase, 1st place at the 2007 NH State AAU 11U Championship, 3rd place at the 2007 National AAU DII 11U Championship, and 5th place at the 2006 National AAU DII 10U Championship.

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Also volunteers his time in other local basketball organizations including being the Treasurer of the Bedford Basketball League and Bedford Girls 8 Travel Asst Coach as well as serving as the President of the Manchester Suburban Basketball League (MSBL) (2002-2004)

Don Maynard

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Twenty year veteran high school boys coached at Oyster River HS

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Led Oyster River to Class I titles in 1992, 1995, and 1996

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Coached schoolboy star Keith Friel (University of Virginia) and Greg Friel (Dartmouth College).

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Currently Athletic Director at Oyster River H.S.

Chuck Balboni

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Been involved in NH basketball for the past 20 years, coaching rec, travel and AAU teams in the Seacoast area.

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A three sport athlete at Stoneham HS,

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Was a scholarship athlete for the UMass Minutemen football team playing tight end and helping to bring his team to the National Championship game his senior year.

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Coached football at Masconomet HS

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Coached baseball at The Governor's Academy and Lexington HS.

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Currently resides in Rye, NH with his wife and three daughters and works in the Nashua area

Mike Cimino

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Coached various Crusader teams from 2003-2007 within the New England Crusaders.

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Played a big part in the development of many Crusaders from 2003-2007 where he created competitive environment for the players to develop and hone their skills

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Provided tremendous mentorship for our young coaches, many of whom were current college players at the time.
-Coached a Maine AAU team on the boys side during the 2007 season.

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His daughter Ashley was a McDonald’s All American, and is a player on the nationally ranked Stanford women’s basketball team

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Bentley graduate who was co-owner of Cimino Construction.

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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.

Kindyll Dorsey

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Finished up an illustrious prep career at Manchester Memorial and the Peddie School (NJ) in 2003

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Starred for the Boston College Eagles where she helped to Eagles to their last Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2006

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As a player, known for her shooting ability from long range and her shooting ability in the clutch as evidenced by BC’s upset win over Ohio State (the #1 see) in the NCAA tournament

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Helped coach the Crusaders during the spring/summer after college.

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Played professional in Ireland after her college career ended.

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Worked as an assistant for former BC player, Nicole Conway at Newton North HS

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Currently is the head coach at Merrimack HS (NH)

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Kindyll is a teacher in the southern NH region.

Jenn (Hogan) Fay

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Current Head Coach at Nashua South HS

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Former Southern NH University and Nashua HS star

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Helped lead her high school team to three state titles during her career.

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Played for the Crusaders on the club side while in high school.

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Spent three years coaching with the Crusader programs after finishing up her collegiate career.

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One of the primary instructor's in the Crusaders partner --- ACE/New England Skills Academy skill development program.

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Jenn is a teacher in Manchester

Chrissy Hall

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Senior at UNH where she is majoring in Sports Management.

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A forward on the UNH women’s hoops team.

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Starred at Northbridge HS (MA) and was considered one of the top players in Mass and New England her senior year.

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A former Crusader player during her sophomore and junior year.

Cassie Loftus

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Former Nashua HS and St Anselm College start

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Coached for two years in the Crusader program.

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Helped lead her high school team to three NH Class L titles for Nashua HS and graduated in 2004

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Cassie is now the Recruiting Coordinator at Springfield College where she is coaching and working on her Masters in Education.

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Cassie is a former Crusaders player.

Maria Noucas

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Coached the New England Crusader Portland team for two years

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Currently an assistant coach at the Naval Academy women's basketball team

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Played for the perennial powerhouse, Bowdoin Women's Basketball team for four years –Starred at Portsmouth HS during her high school days where she garnered All-State and McDonald All American nominee selections.

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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.

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A former Crusader player during her prep career.

Eric Vallecillo

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Former varsity coach at Bishop Guertin high school where helped build the program into a state title contender.

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Lead BG to the Class L final game in 2006 and 2007 after taking over the program in 2001.

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Coached the Crusader program for three spring seasons (2005-2008)

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Key instructor in the Crusader/ACE Skills Academy

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Eric and his family have moved to South Carolina where he is a guidance counselor

Michaela (Leary) Zebrak

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Former George Washington and Nashua HS star

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Former BG varsity coach finishing up her tenure in the Winter 2008

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Assisted the Crusader program director while playing ball collegiately

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Played for the Crusaders on the club side while in high school.

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Has moved to DC area where she is an English teacher.