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Meet Our Spring/Summer 2025 Season Coaches!
 

3rd Grade Coaches: We are so excited to carry on the tradition of HEAT Hoops AAU alumni giving back! The 3rd graders will be lead by five local standouts representing four different high schools. Team communication will be supported by parent, Todd Dreby, a veteran of several years coaching in our Upper Makefield Newtown Basketball league on both the girls' and boys' sides.

 

Coaches include: Fiona Recker (with HEAT Hoops since 4th grade!): Fiona is an all-league, 4-year varsity letterman and captain in both basketball and soccer who plays for Council Rock South. She is committed to play basketball at Franklin and Marshall College (NCAA DIII). Sydney Ralph (with HEAT Hoops since 9th grade): Sydney is a 4-year varsity player on the Central Bucks East basketball team and also a dual sport athlete playing soccer all four years as well. Savannah Hayes (with HEAT Hoops since 9th grade): Savannah, like her teammate Sydney at Central Bucks East, is a standout multi-year varsity athlete in both basketball and soccer. Together, Fiona, Sydney, and Savannah also coached HEAT Hoops players in summer league last year. Grace Pizzica (with HEAT Hoops since 8th grade): Grace is a dual sport all-star athlete in both basketball and soccer, serving as captain of the Villa Joseph Marie basketball team for three years. Alena Cofield (new to HEAT Hoops in her 11th grade season when her prior team folded): Alena is a standout on the Neshimany basketball team who will play hoops at Arcadia University (NCAA DIII) and rounds out the amazing energy of this talented, smart, and eager-to-lead team of coaches. 

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4rd Grade Coaches: 

Kristy Reed: Kristy is the coach of the Upper Makefield Newtown HEAT Basketball travel team at this age level. Kristy is a graduate of TCNJ (NCAA DIII) (formerly Trenton State) where she played soccer and helped her team to win the National Championship! She has been coaching youth sports for over 10 years. 

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Brian Sassano: Brian graduated from William Tennent High School and Temple University. Brian is in his sixth year of coaching basketball and is currently the head coach of the CRBA 4th grade girls travel team. He is a student of the game and regularly attends youth, high-school, and college basketball games in the Philadelphia area. His favorite parts of coaching are player development and creating a strong team culture. Outside of basketball, Brian has extensive experience coaching soccer and is currently the travel soccer director at a local club.

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​5th Grade Coaches: 

Julie Osbeck (formerly Sailer): Julie was an All-American scored 1,910 points in high school, which was the most points in Bucks County (girls) history. She was a 1,000 point scorer at The University of Delaware (NCAA Division I) and an Academic All-American. She has ten years of coaching experience at the middle school and high school levels. 

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Kathryn Pearson: Kathryn began playing basketball in the 4th grade, played for four years at Council Rock North and four years at Fairleigh Dickinson in North Jersey (NCAA Division III). She began coaching her 3rd grader in 2021 and loves teaching kids this age new skills, how to compete, and enjoyment for the game.

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Jim McCullough: Jim graduated from Father Judge High School and Holy Family University. He has played Travel, CYO, and AAU basketball throughout grade school and high school. Jim is currently the assistant coach for the St. Bede’s JV Girls Region Team and will be in his 2nd year as an assistant coach for HEAT Hoops. His favorite part of coaching AAU basketball is seeing the girls develop as individual players and utilizing their strengths to compliment each other and effectively achieve goals as a team.

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Gerard Margiotti: Jerry graduated from Holy Ghost Prep, LaSalle University, and PCOM Medical School. Jerry coaches CYO basketball and soccer at St. Bede's Parish. He is excited to join the HEAT Hoops AAU program this year! Jerry will be assisted by Coach Brian Smith.

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6th Grade Coaches:

Danielle Oxley: Danielle graduated from Council Rock North in 2003 and continued her playing career at University of Hartford (NCAA Division I). She then coached at the high school level for six years, and has also been coaching youth basketball for both boys’ and girls’ teams over the past six years. She is currently the Women's Varsity Assistant for Council Rock North High School.

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Brett D'Andrea: Brett graduated from Holy Ghost Prep and Fairfield University. Brett is in his third year coaching of in the UMNB program and serves as an intramural age group program coordinator. Outside of basketball, Brett has years of experience coaching both soccer and baseball in the local community. 

 

7th Grade Coaches:

Heather Thompson (formally McGinty): Heather graduated from Neshaminy High School as the all-time leading scorer for both boys’ and girls’ basketball. She played for four years at Drexel University (NCAA Division I). She serves as the Assistant Coach for Rider University (NCAA Division I) basketball program and has dedicated her time to supporting the development of youth basketball for over 29 years, supporting clinics, CYO and AAU organizations.

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Lisa Boyle: Lisa was the four-year starting center for Temple University Women’s basketball (NCAA Division I). She went on to coach JV at Conwell Egan Catholic for two years. After having seven children, she started coaching at the AAU/Travel level, and has been coaching for the past 12 years.

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Rich Galup: Rich has coached for UMNB intramural, travel, and AAU for the past two years. He played basketball at Misericordia University (NCAA DIII). Rich loves to work with kids who love the game and loves to foster their development with the team.

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8th Grade Coaches: 

Adam Biederman: Adam brings over 15 years of coaching experience with a focus on player development and teamwork. He is dedicated to enhancing individual skills while fostering a strong team-first mentality. Adam has worked with players at all levels from elementary to high school. 

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Erin Scritchfield (former Moody): Erin got her start right here in the Upper Makefield Newtown Basketball league when she was a second grader! Attending the original Council Rock High School, she played basketball, field hockey and lacrosse. During her senior year, she received the Female Athlete of the Year Award before heading to Hofstra University. She has 6 years of coaching experience ranging from high school girls' Varsity to recreational teams. 

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9th Grade Coaches:

Kari Cairone: Kari has been coaching AAU for 14 years and is co-director of the HEAT Hoops AAU program, as well as a board member of Upper Makefield Newtown Basketball intramural and HEAT travel programs. She played for four years at Lafayette College (NCAA Division I) where she served as captain. 

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Kevin Gallagher: Kevin has been coaching basketball for over 50 years. Since 1968, he has coached all ages and both genders. He has worked with 2nd graders up through the college level. Kevin has brought in championships across the board including a Trenton Catholic high school girls team with two state championships and three straight AAU national tournament finishes and a national AAU title with a girls college level team with the Philadelphia Belles; and, at the college level at LaSalle University (NCAA DI), his team was the first women’s collegiate team from the city of Philadelphia to qualify for the NCAA tournament. Recently he has been the assistant at New Hope HS (girls) for six seasons, Council Rock North (boys) for four seasons, Council Rock South (girls) for one season and has now returned to assist at New Hope HS (girls). His resume as an athlete includes playing for a state championship basketball team at Cathedral HS and two additional state finals in both soccer and basketball. He attended Rider University (NCAA DI) on a soccer scholarship. Coach Gallagher’s most important team is his four children and their significant others and his grandson, Noah.

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10th Grade Coaches:

Mitchell Akright: Mitch is an experienced basketball coach with over 10 years of coaching experience. He is currently the basketball coordinator for St. Andrews School. He also coaches the A level Region teams for 8/7th grade girls and 6/5th grade girls. He has a passion for the sport and understanding of the technical, strategic, and tactical aspects of the game. He has led St. Andrews girls’ basketball recently to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia city playoffs and Region Championships. Building a strong positive winning team culture along with individual development are his top priorities.

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Julie Cruz: Julie is in her 6th season of coaching. She is always looking for ways to learn more about the game, attending the last three summers at Point Guard College summer camps as an observing coach. She enjoys focusing on individual and team development and is often reading new books and looking for new drills to focus on helping each player improve. 

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11th Grade Coaches:

Alan Jett: Alan has been coaching basketball and football in the local community for the past 25 years. He is a graduate of Missouri University (NCAA Division I), where he played football. Alan is a true teacher of the game, and is excited to return to support this age group, who started with him back in 5th grade and have had a few other coaching volunteers in between. We hope some of our HEAT Hoops AAU alumni who coached this group last year can join the staff after they finish up their first year playing college hoops. 

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Dave Wisniewski: Dave has been coaching for over 25 years at the Varsity High School as well as Club levels throughout  Pennsylvania. Dave was the Varsity Head Coach of Girls' Basketball at both Truman High School and Conwell Egan Catholic where he also served as Athletic Director. 

 

Don Bogan: Don brings a ton of experience coaching for over 20 years at Bensalem High School as the Varsity Girls' Basketball Coach and Softball Coach. Don is a retired teachers at Bensalem High School.

 

Al Rongione: Al was a Varsity Assistant Coach at Neshaminy and Bensalem High Schools with their Girls' programs. Al brings a lot of coaching knowledge and background with over 25 years of experience. He has also coached football at various local high schools.   

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​​We occasionally have openings for coaching positions, both volunteer and paid; Please inquire with Kari Cairone kmburger@yahoo.com or 610-420-8401. ​Registration form below. Register today!

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