Coach Pete Winning On and Off The Court
Last month Pete Spano had the opportunity to coach youth summer basketball camps and clinics for children in the DFW Metroplex for his 6th year with Basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman and her son, TJ Cline, who is a professional basketball player that recently played for Hapoel Holon of the Israeli Premier League. Nancy was celebrating her 40th year facilitating these programs and leads each session with demonstrations of basketball skills and drills, while stressing the importance of sportsmanship, teamwork, setting goals, making positive decisions to achieve goals, and building confidence and self-esteem. At these camps, basketball is used as a tool to teach students valuable lessons such as staying in school, leading a healthy lifestyle, and she also stresses self-improvement, fitness, working together and a maintaining winning attitude.
Pete’s been involved with playing, coaching, and organizing sports programs his entire life. He is a valuable member of the Minutemen and a member of the Sacred Heart High School basketball staff where he is the Head JV Coach and Varsity Assistant and also currently coaches with throughout Westchester including Ymca, Ywca, PAL, NY Sports Club.
As a part of his community efforts, he collaborates with several local businesses and has created PS Charities whose mission is to provide opportunities in underserved areas throughout Yonkers and Westchester County. Pete partnered with Nancy Lieberman Charities several years ago and helps build basketball courts they call “Dream Courts” in multiple cities across the country. Through this initiative, the aim is to make basketball more accessible to kids, as well as to provide a safe environment for kids to play. Dream Courts™ provide children in underprivileged communities an inexpensive recreational alternative, a safe place to play basketball, interact socially, and learn the importance of teamwork and good sportsmanship. This serves as an impactful avenue for leaving a lasting legacy that benefits low-income, at-risk children. There are currently 90 courts installed throughout the United States and Pete has been heavily involved in the process since its inception. There are currently 4 courts in New York, 2 in New Jersey, and 2 in Connecticut. Pete is aggressively working on building several more throughout Yonkers and Tri-state area and greatly appreciates your support.