GET BACK ON D!

If you’ve ever passed by the gym after school, you’ve probably heard a booming British voice echoing down the halls. It’s not always clear what he’s yelling— sometimes it’s “Disney”, other times it’s traffic light colors, but one thing’s for sure: that would be the voice of Coach Mel, the beloved basketball coach who manages to be both intimidating and hilarious, sometimes within the same sentence. He coaches both the boys and girls varsity teams at our school, and whether you’re running suicides or forgetting the playbook again, you’ve probably had the privilege of getting roasted by him mid-practice.

But what’s the story behind the man who makes us run laps for laughing during warm-ups and creates legendary plays with names like “Disney”? I sat down with Coach Mel to get the full picture. Turns out that behind the yelling, the “go get the bibs” punishments, and the tragically missed layups, is a coach with a story, and surprisingly, a bookshelf. 

Coach Mel didn’t start off planning to be a coach. His journey began in London, where a high school coach named Coach Pete became more than just a sports mentor.

“Coach Pete was a role model,” Mel says. “He had the ability to connect with us on a personal level, understanding that many of us were grappling with issues outside of basketball, from family struggles, school grades, and other socioeconomic challenges.” 

That deep sense of purpose stuck with him when he first picked up the clipboard.

His first time coaching in a London high school was, unsurprisingly, a bit nerve-wracking. “I kept thinking: would the players even listen, will they get into a fight amongst themselves, if so how do I stop it etc.,” he remembers. But the session went better than expected. “We worked on layups and dribbling. I got them to connect.” 

Of course, coaching isn’t always smooth. I asked if he ever doubted himself. 

“As a coach I doubt myself all the time; will the players trust each other and work together, who’s ego do I need to deflate, how can I get everyone on the same page?” 

One way he pushes through is by trusting in his ability to connect with players and help them understand his coaching—it’s not about how skilled they are. As long as they work as a team, they can reach their goals.

But when it comes to playing, he’s all confident. 

“Never doubt myself! I feel unstoppable.” On the court, coach Mel is always willing to give his teammates a chance to shine. “However when everything goes to hell and the game is on the line—just me, the ball, and I’ll get the job done,” He answered proudly. 

We’ll try to remember that sentence the next time he airballs a three during training. 

Photo of Mel as the coach of the boys’ basketball team in Jr.NBA

Training with Coach Mel is intense. Despite our complaints about suicides, Coach Mel is a big believer in building consistent routines. His advice for any student athletes? 

“Build a good morning routine of exercise. Doesn’t have to be for long, just 5–10 minutes in the morning. This could be something as simple as waking up and going for a walk, jog, run, but as soon as you wake up. Be consistent!” 

He gave us an example: “Waking up everyday at 6am, brushing teeth, doing 20 push-ups, breakfast, getting ready for the day.”

We will most certainly try that out. 

I asked which NBA team he’d coach for a season. His answer? The Miami Heat.

“And yes,” he says, “I’d make them run even more suicides than you do.”

Mel coaches both the boys and girls varsity teams, but he’s tight-lipped about how he approaches them differently. “Hahaha—I wouldn’t say you’re completely hopeless,” he joked. “But yes, I coach the teams differently. That’s all I’ll say.”

Still, he shows up for both squads with the same energy, even when we freestyle in games and definitely don’t read the playbook. 

“Not gonna lie bro, sometimes it’s challenging,” he admitted. “I try to put myself in your shoes, understanding the difficulties of being a student, assignments, exams etc… then you got to do a sport after a long day of learning… omg! Sometimes you just wanna chill. I get it—kinda, hahaha.”

As for what he wishes he didn’t have to yell so often?

“GET BACK ON D!”

No surprise there. (To people who don’t know: D means DEFENSE.)

Of course, no Coach Mel article is complete without addressing the legendary play names. From traffic light colors ”Green Yellow Red” to “Circle” and “Disney,” his tactics sound more like theme park rides than basketball strategy. We asked where his famous code words actually come from. Turns out, they’re not random at all. 

Back in 2021, after a dry season, the varsity girls team made a bold request: Coach Mel would have to take them to Disney if they won the league. He agreed, not expecting much. “They were undefeated when they lifted the Championship trophy on March 30th. The season after… when I drew up the play with all the arrows, it looked like Mickey Mouse so we call it DISNEY!”

Moral of the story: if players win, they’re going to Disneyland (coach Mel is paying).

Off the court, Coach Mel is a little different than most people expect. For one, he’s a reader.

“I love to read. Yes I do. So far I’ve read 8 books this year. It’s usually autobiographies, self help, business, and motivation books.”

We are shocked, and slightly suspicious to hear that.

Through all the tactics, jokes, and yells, there’s one question we really wanted to know: has there ever been a moment when he felt genuinely proud of us?

“Everyday bro,” he says. And you can tell he means it. When asked what life lesson he hopes every player carry with them in life, his answer was clear:

“Off the court—don’t be afraid to be yourself, remain true to your core values and don’t allow yourself to be compromised. It doesn’t matter if people like you or not, if you like being you. On the court—trust yourself and trust your teammates.” 

At the end of the day, Coach Mel isn’t just shouting plays and chasing championships. To talk to him long enough, you’ll find someone who deeply cares—not just about basketball, but about turning a bunch of tired, distracted high schoolers into something more.

Into people who trust. 

Into people who show up. 

Into people who get back on D.