Future Coaches Help Guide Future Cougs
When the Nashua-area Basketball Development School (BDS) brought its youth clinic to Conval High this week, it was more than just another kids’ sports camp. ...“We’re hoping to bring basketball to the forefront in the Conval community,” says BDS co-founder and co-director, and former Cougar head coach, Leo Gershgorin.
For several seasons at the end of the last decade, Gershgorin helped rebuild a once-powerful Conval basketball program that had fallen on difficult times, coaching the Cougars to the Division 2 Final Four in 2019 and to a state co-championship in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. His coaching staff included current Conval head coach Jason Starr. Even though Gershgorin is now leading a similar hoop revival at Alvirne High School in Hudson, his love for the Conval program and community runs strong.
“We’re coming to help build a strong foundation for years to come.," he said of BDS's involvement at Conval. "Most importantly, we want to provide leadership and coaching opportunities for former players who want to give back and are passionate about basketball.”
Two of those former players, Owen Michaels '22 and James Cook '21, assisted former Conval assistant and current BDS coach Christian Patnaude in leading this week's camp.
“Absolutely!” said Michaels and Cook together when asked if they hoped to coach one day. Both former players helped direct the future Cougars this week with enthusiasm, encouragement, and easily-understood teaching of skills and strategies.
“It’s been a great experience for me, and I think for all the kids,” said Michaels. “A lot of them are friends already and have been playing together, and they’re eager to learn. Hopefully, next time we do this, even more kids will pile into the gym.”
Even though it was just a couple of days of work, both player-coaches saw the future Cougars improve in several areas. “To me, improvement in teamwork was the big thing,” said Cook. “The first day, there wasn’t a lot of ball movement, and they were running to the basket with their heads down." But the next day, when the aspiring coaches helped lead a scrimmage that emphasized passing, Cook said:
"We definitely saw better teamwork and some great passing. Their faces lit up. They’re the future of our program, and it’s been great working with them.”
Michaels and Cook aren’t alone in their coaching dreams. Another former Cougar standout, Christian Buffum ‘22, is currently coaching the HWD (How We Doin’) AAU team made up of mostly incoming Conval freshmen and sophomores.
Patnaude, who was the lead mentor at this week’s three-day camp attended by 16 third through ninth graders, taught at South Meadow School for five years before joining Gershgorin in helping to rebuild the Alvirne program. “It has been so much fun being back at Conval,” said Patnaude. “The future Cougars have been working hard during every drill, they’re eager to learn, and they’re having fun out there.”
Going forward, BDS hopes to provide weekend, weeknight, and holiday clinics in addition to future summer camps, and will hold tryouts at Conval in August for its New England Storm AAU program.
“I was really excited when Leo [Gershgorin] reached out to ask about the possibilities,” said Kevin Proctor, athletic director. “The Conval athletic department is very excited to have these sorts of opportunities for our athletes. Basketball never stops at Conval. I love it!"
More than a dozen Conval third through ninth graders participated in Basketball Development School's three-day clinic this week at the high school.
