Turning Gateway Into a Basketball School

My coaching career began with a simple question. “Any interest in coaching a High School Boys basketball team?” It was my first year at Gateway Academy, where I serve as Director of Student Support. Dr. Michele Joseph, Head of School and Founder of Gateway, worked with the Tallowood Kingdom Basketball league to set up the first official high school basketball team, the Gateway Academy Gryphons. The Kingdom basketball league consists of teams of mostly neurotypical boys and girls with a few private school teams sprinkled in.

The inaugural Gateway Academy basketball team had ten boys sign up. None of the students had any organized basketball experience. I’ve played recreationally since I was young but had no coaching experience. That first season was a learning experience for players and coaches. The first challenge was getting the students to get along. There were students with behavioral challenges on that team so having all the players respect each other and the coaches was our top priority. We had a parent of one of the players volunteer to be an assistant coach and he was really helpful in organizing the practices. I was able to concentrate on helping the players stay focused and regulated. There were a lot of breaks taken and one on one coaching on how to stay calm and accept feedback. Another challenge was helping the players learn to play as a team. They all wanted to be the “star” and make shots so there was not much passing in the beginning. There was also a lot of frustration when the ball was not passed to them. That first season was tough. We went 1 - 6 with most of the losses being blowouts. The lone win occurred in the Gateway gym. It was clear that the players felt comfortable playing at “home” because we were making shots and not turning the ball over. Our other games were played at a different gym and the players always seemed anxious there. We lost a couple of players by the end of the season for various reasons. However, the remaining players really started to bond. Friendships blossomed that would not have formed organically because of the difference in age and membership in different social circles.

During the off-season, I enrolled in a basketball coaching certification course. This course helped me learn to organize practices more efficiently, introduce different skills to focus on, and how to delegate some of the coaching responsibilities to my new assistant coaches (two Gateway staff members and one parent-volunteer). Before the start of the second season we had a large group of 9th graders who wanted to join the team. We ended up forming two teams, a Freshman Team and an Upper Class Team. The Freshman Team consisted of new players and focused on the basic skills. The Upper Class Team was mostly returning players and we worked on more advanced defensive schemes and drills. Scrimmages each week pitted the two teams against each other and were very intense. However, the effort and hustle did not translate to league games. The Freshman Team went 1 - 6 and looked overmatched for most of the season. The Upper Class Team went 2 - 5 with two gutsy wins but were outmatched in the five losses. Overall, the players had not yet bought into the team concept. There was a lot of “hero ball” and standing around on both ends of the floor.

The 2023-2024 season was special. We combined the two teams from last year because we lost a large group of Seniors who graduated. This team went 6 - 1 compared to both teams combining for a 3 - 11 record last season. I made it very clear at the start of the school year what the expectations were to be a Gateway Gryphon basketball player. Students are expected to keep their grades up and also to behave in a way that reflects positively on the school and team. Being on this team has given a lot of our players a chance to be successful at something and build confidence. Many of them have never been on any kind of sports team. The players are more receptive to coaching this year. They want to improve and practice the skills necessary to become better players. Players have buy-in regarding the belief that hard work leads to success. There is a strong desire amongst many of the players to improve their basketball skills and behavior in school so that they can be named Team Captain. Another key difference in this team’s success is the emphasis on conditioning this season. The ability and effort really helped us win. The players are constantly battling against their instinct to play selfish basketball. Many of our players who were on the Freshman team last year were overcome with anxiety and played timidly. This year, we had some key players step up and play with confidence. The main difference with this team is the tenacity to fight for rebounds and play as a team.

As the Director of Student Support, I am able to form strong relationships with the players on campus. If they are having behavioral issues that are affecting their performance in school, I work with them to develop a plan to improve. We work on it together so that they have buy-in and then we implement it with the help of the Student Support Team. The key is respect. I show the players respect and in turn expect them to show the same respect to their coaches and the Gateway staff. They are teenagers with special needs so there have been bumps in the road. However, the buy-in and camaraderie that this team has developed has made working on behaviors much easier. The players don’t want to let their coaches or their teammates down. Overall behavior for the players has improved. They are proud to be on the team and wear the jersey with the school name on the front. The Gateway community showed up to many of the games to cheer on the team. Now we have a program that allows Middle School students to engage in basketball activities 4 days a week. They are interested in trying out basketball because they are seeing the celebration for this team. We have been able to change the sports culture at Gateway and it has been a very rewarding journey. Winning is no longer a pleasant surprise; it is an expectation.

Nam Nguyen serves as Director of Student Support for Gateway Academy. He holds a B.A. in Psychology and an M.Ed in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas. With extensive experience in special education, he's served as a teacher, department chair, and behavior specialist in both private and public schools. Nam prioritizes individualized support and safety for Gateway students. Nam also serves as the head basketball coach for the school's basketball team. In his spare time, he enjoys basketball, theater, and exploring new restaurants with family and friends, finding inspiration in the Gateway community daily. Go Gryphons!