Our leadership team brings a unique blend of basketball coaching and youth development expertise. Our Director, Cole McDaniel has dedicated his career to working with young people in a variety of settings, ensuring that every program he designs is structured, engaging, and impactful.

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Cole began as a Transitional Aged Youth Specialist with the Women’s Center in Stockton, CA, where he supported young adults navigating critical life transitions. He then served as a Site Director for after-school programs in Carson, CA through the Los Angeles Conservation Corps, creating safe and enriching environments for students. Later, as a Senior Program Director for Youth Development at the YMCA of Greater Long Beach, Cole oversaw large-scale after-school programs, youth sports leagues, and summer day camps, shaping experiences for hundreds of children each year.

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In addition to his program leadership, Cole has four years of high school basketball coaching experience at Division I Los Alamitos High School. During his time there, the team developed into one of the top programs in Southern California, culminating in a Division I Southern Section Championship.

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Through this combination of on-court coaching and broader youth development leadership, Schoolyard Hoops is built on a foundation of experience that bridges structured basketball training with mentorship, teamwork, and personal growth.