With a new coach and new rules, the Stern basketball team is getting a makeover. Coach Nesta Felix has the college playing and coaching experience to take our lady Maccabees to the next level.
Felix played basketball for Iona College in New Rochelle, and since 2002, she’s been “coaching basketball right out of college.” Coaching basketball at Monroe College for seven years, Felix then switched to Woodman High School in Greenberg, NY, before taking the coaching position at Stern College. “Basketball has just been an area where I’ve created a name,” said Felix.
In 2007, Felix founded the youth non-profit organization ‘Newflex,’ which offers young men and women tutoring opportunities and academic supervision in addition to developing their basketball skills. At Neflex, Felix coaches players of all ages and competes on the court to raise money for youth sports and mentoring.
If Felix isn’t coaching basketball, she’s playing in the game. She’s surrounded by the sport around the clock, playing in tournaments throughout the year. “I’ve just had a passion for basketball…I love to be part of the game,” Felix said.
With the team roster set, Felix is making sure that the ladies are in shape and ready for the upcoming season. Energized and prepared for their first game, Felix is excited to show other schools what the Maccabees are made of. After scouting out the competition, Felix remains confident in her players.
“I hold them up to some very high standards. I’m very impressed with their work ethic. We have a very smart team, and they pick up things very quickly,” Felix said with assurance.
The team is built around the concept of unity. One senior player commented, “This year the team has been taken much more seriously.”
While the Lady Macs may not have as much practice as other college teams due to Shabbat limitations, Felix makes sure that they make up for their lack of practice with running drills and conditioning. Felix recognizes the hurdles ahead, but remains optimistic saying, “Whatever we do, we are going to improve and be better than what we were in the past. And I’m looking forward to that.”
In addition to being a unified team on the court, Felix wants the women to look like a team off the court as well. Entering the gym before a game, the ladies are expected to be in uniform, wearing black slacks or skirts, with a white buttoned down shirt. Felix wants the players to look, act, and feel like a team.
While Felix may be tough, she understands that constantly practicing makes a difference. Her favorite part of coaching is “just watching them play together. Being rewarded, because they were able to follow the play.”
The first women’s home basketball game is November 27th, starting at 8 pm at Baruch College.