Sparks Coaches

Call us at (888) 888-8888

2012 Sparks Coaching Staff

4th Grade Head Coach, Charles Thomas 1st Year Sparks Coach

Charles has been involved with youth basketball for the past 16 years. His coaching experience includes 16 years of various youth and AAU teams, both boys and girls. Charles is currently a PIAA referee.

6th Grade Head Coach, Bernard Gallagher 2nd Year Sparks Coach

Coach Bernard Gallagher has been around Philadelphia Basketball all his life. He played high school ball at St. Joseph's Prep. Coached in South Jersey at Bishop Eustace High School. He has tutored several 'big men' at the high school and college level on rebounding and scoring inside. Presently coaching in the West Chester Junior Basketball League. He is the son of a 25 year CYO coach. Bern scouts and reviews film for his brother Michael, who is the head men's basketball coach at Wilmington University.

7th Grade Head Coach, Doris Zimmerman 3nd Year Sparks Coach

Graduate of Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA. During her four year career at Wilson, she amassed a number of awards and twice as many statistical records. At the national level, she was selected as 2003 Division III All-American Honorable Mention, and elected to the 2003 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Women's Southern Basketball All-Star Second Team. In addition, D3Hoops.com announced Zimmerman as a member of the second team Atlantic All-Region team. Zimmerman was selected to the Atlantic Women's Colleges Conference (AWCC) All-Conference first team every year and currently holds the conference career record for scoring and rebounding. Zimmerman concluded her basketball career with 2060 points and 1205 rebounds, setting Wilson College records in both categories.

8th Grade 1st Team Head Coach, Keisha Mack 6th Year Sparks Coach

Kiesha Mack is a 2005 graduate from West Chester University where she is the All-Time Leading Scorer and All-Time Three Point Shooter. After spending 4 seasons as a High School Assistant Coach and founder and director of Kiesha Mack Girl's Basketball camps, Mack spent one season as an Assistant Coach at East Stroudsburg University and most recently spent a season at Appalachian State University. Mack comes to us with a vast background both on and off the court. On February 1, 2010, West Chester University honored the standout by retiring her jersey. Mack's knowledge and enthusiasm for the game is very evident and displayed when she steps on the court.

8th Grade Assistant Coach, Robert "Tex" Camden5th Year Sparks Coach

Graduate of Virginia Tech. Coaching past 6 years youth basketball.

9th Grade Head Coach , Mike Greene 2nd Year Sparks Coach

Played basketball at Milton Hershey High School in Hershey, PA where he led his High School team to the only state title in the School History in 1981. In his senior year he averaged 25 points, 7 assists and 10 rebounds as Milton Hershey racked upa 27-4 record. A 3 year starter as a point guard led him to a full scholarship to Grand Canyon College, where in his senior year he won the NAIA National Championship in 1986, Mike was select Second team All-American in 1986. After graduation, Mike went on to play with the Harlem Globtrotters for 3 years. After his playing career, Mike went on to coach Kennedy Kendrick High School 2001-2003, Varsity Boys. Then coached 2 years at the Hill School JV Boys thru 2006. Mike also coached the Keystone Blazers AAU girls from 2005-2008. Since 2008, Mike is the Head JV Basketball Coach at New Media Technology Charter School.

10th Grade Head Coach, Pat Lyons 6th Year Sparks Coach

Player at Bishop Shanahan High School, 15 years coaching CYO boys and girls basketball. 9 years experience coaching AAU.

9th Grade Asst Coach, Tina Burg 1st Year Sparks Coach

Tina is a graduate of Widener University ('11) where she just finished her collegiate career playing for The Pride and was a member of their 2010 Middle Atlantic Conference Championship and NCAA Div III National Championship Tournament team. A Sparks Alum, Tina played her high school ball at Bishop Shanahan where she was named to the All ChesMont and All Area teams in her senior season. Her recent college basketball experience will be invaluable to our Sparks high school players as they continue to learn the fine points in playing the game at a high level.

8th Grade 2nd Team Head Coach, Michael Chew 2nd Year Sparks Coach

Coach Chew was an All-League High School basketball player at Seaholm HS in Birmingham, Michigan where he later coached the 9th grade girls and boys basketball teams. Graduate of the University of Michigan. In addition to his AAU experience, he coaches CYO girls basketball and a number of Rec League teams.

7th Grade Asst Coach, Tracee Smith 3rd Year Sparks Coach

Tracee graduated from St. Peter Chanel High School in Bedford, OH, and was a member of their 2001 State Final 4 women's basketball team. Was a staff member at "Nothing But Basic Fundamentals" Basketball Academy, helping to train youth athletes in Greensboro, NC. Current assistant coach for St. Agnes CYO JV girls basketball.

5th Grade Head Coach, Katie Armstrong 1st Year Sparks Coach

First year coach Katie Armstrong is a Sparks Alum and was the point guard for our club's first ever AAU National Qualifier team back in 2004. Katie played collegiate ball at Philadelphia University of the Sciences (NCAA Div II). She was a standout locally at Henderson High School where she was an All ChesMont and All Area selection in her Junior and Senior years.

5th Grade Asst Coach, Carolyn Samoylo Choelo 4th Year Sparks Coach

Carolyn has a wealth of coaching experience at the High School and AAU level. A thousand point scorer in high school at Bishop Shanahan, Carolyn played collegiately at Shippensburg University . Carolyn's teams are always fundamentally sound.