What sports did you play growing up?
Mostly basketball, but also football & baseball.
What Coach influenced you most and why?
I had a coach early in high school that belittled me in front of the team on two occasions and questioned my toughness and aggressiveness. That taught me how NOT to coach people, but he was also right, and I still think of those moments to this day in situations where I need to be more aggressive and confident. My best experience was actually my very first coach in baseball, when I was probably in first grade. He was very kind and easy to learn from. I learned about effective communicating from Coach Sproule.
Why did you want to become a Parisi coach?
I always wanted to be a college basketball player, but when the time came, I wasn’t strong enough or confident enough, even though I may have had the ability. I knew by the time I had graduated that I wanted to be someone who could influence those two qualities in an athlete way before college or even high school sports started. I wanted to be a coach.
Which class is your favorite to teach? (Level/LS/COD/Str)
I love to train the Total Conditioning classes because kids that don’t see themselves necessarily as athletes can participate in athletic drills and gain confidence. The easy answer would be Total Performance II Strength or Change of Direction classes.
Hometown?
Elmwood Park
College attended?
Ramapo College
Random fun facts:
The things that matter most to me are my family, being a good human, and the Brooklyn Nets.
I credit almost all of my athleticism to watching every sporting event possible on TV in my basement as a young kid and replicating every move I saw the professionals make. I would run, jump, cut, throw, catch, and dive with all of my favorite athletes.