Jesus Rodriguez (Coach Hollywood)
Jesus Rodriguez was born in Bronx, New York before moving to Boston. Jesus currently works as a community youth worker serving hundreds of children throughout the Boston and West Roxbury area.
Jesus' career in sports has been a great journey. He was a member of the champion East Boston High School teams and has coached many other teams throughout the city. Jesus is also an experienced and well know coach on the softball and baseball diamonds. He coaches for the Boston Red Sox RBI team and the Boston Astros, and has had 3 players get drafted to Major League Baseball.
Jesus' career with the
Boston Showstoppers has also been very exciting having coached the 2010 5th Grade and 2011 6th Grade teams to both a Back-to-Back D1 State Championship and a Back-to-Back D2 National Championship.
Jesusrodriguez@bostonshowstoppers.com
Courtney Leonard (Coach Courtney B.)
“Courtney B”, as she’s affectionately known on the airwaves in Boston, continues to be a woman in perpetual motion as she balances her own career goals and aspirations and a personal mission to; “make a difference in the lives of as many young people as possible!”
Besides coaching w/the Boston Showstoppers AAU family, she’s currently the Music Director and midday on-air personality for TOUCH 106.1 FM, Boston, a part-time teacher and after school program coordinator for the Maurice J. Tobin School in Roxbury, an assistant girls basketball coach @ Fenway High School, and a mentor for female student-athletes at the Madison Park Community Center. Her motto is simple: Believe in yourself, follow your heart, work hard, give back!
Lauren Kreckie (Coach Lauren) is in her second year as a
Boston Showstopper coach. In the 2010 Season, Lauren was the assistant coach to Jesus Rodriguez's State and National Champion 5th Grade team. Lauren was also an assistant coach for the Braintree girls 2010 5th Grade South Shore League Championship team. Lauren has had an exciting journey in Sports as a standout Braintree Youth Basketball and Braintree High School player. After Graduating from BHS, Lauren continued on to an impressive 4 years playing for Simmons College in Boston.
Lauren's love for working with kids is also evident by her choice of career. She has recently completed her Masters of Education and is currently a student teacher at The Morrison Elementary School in Braintree. Her tireless work both on and off the court has rewarded her with the respect and admiration of the girls who's lives she has become such a big part of.
Laurenkreckie@bostonshowstoppers.com
Jose Edwards (Coach Edwards)
Jose A. Edwards
is a Boston native who grew up playing basketball for some of Boston's most
prestigious teams, such as the Cooper Comets, Barracudas (Roxbury Boys and
Girls Club), and BABC. Later at Thayer Academy, Jose played varsity basketball
for four years under Rob Dixon. Jose was on the I.S.L all tournament team for
three years and was an I.S.L Champion for two years. During his senior year his
team was ranked Twenty fifth in the Nation by USA Today. Jose then spent one
year at Ferrum College in Virginia and two years at the University of Alabama
in Huntsville.
He later returned
to Thayer Academy to work as Rob Dixon’s assistant coach for the Boy’s
Basketball team. As administrator he coached the Solomon Lewenberg Middle School
Boy’s Basketball team to an undefeated 2006-2007 season and Middle School
Championship.
After successfully completing his bachelor degree, Jose
continued and earned his Masters in Administrative Education. In addition to
his designated role as a behavior specialist for the Boston Public Schools, Jose
Edwards has established non-profits, a mentoring organization designed to
support inner city youth. He has worked as administrator for Boston Public
Schools for the last 10 years.
JoseEdwards@Bostonshowstoppers.com
Kevin Ross (Coach Kevin)
Kevin Ross is a Boston Native who has coached both boys and
girls basketball from the elementary school to the college level. Kevin also
coaches Pop Warner football for the Hyde Park Cowboys E Team, which placed third
in the nation in 2010. As a sixth grade coach for the Showstoppers last year, Kevin
helped lead the team to an impressive fourth place finish at the National
Championships in Tennessee.
Kevin was an accomplished High School and College athlete
and now is concentrating on giving back to the community by pursuing a Masters
in Social Work. Outgoing, enthusiastic and energetic; Kevin believes it takes a
village to raise a child.
KevinRoss@Bostonshowstoppers.com
Kenneth H. Grubbs (Coach Grubbs)Kenneth H. Grubbs (Grubbs) is a proud supporter and coach of The Boston Showstoppers Girls Basketball Program. He is was born and raised in Boston and a proud father of 2 boys and 2 girls. He is also a Boston Police Officer who reinforces one of the Boston Police Departments missions of being proactive in fostering and developing positive relationship with the youth.
Coach Grubbs has been coaching for many years. Some of his basketball coaching accomplishments include 2 National Police Athletic League (PAL) Basketball Masterpiece Basketball Championships. A Girls High School Division Championship. Two 13 and under and two 15 and under Boston Neighborhood Basketball League (BNBL) Girls Championships. And also an International Championship in Montreal, Canada at the Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend Basketball tournament in the Girls high school division.
Some of Grubbs's hobbies include producing cable shows on the Boston Neighborhood Network on Comcast Channel 23 and performing as Master of Ceremonies (MC) and Disc Jockey (DJ) at various community events. He also loves to Sing Karaoke, read an occasional issue of the Incredible Hulk comic book and watch Japanese Anime. One of Grubbs's coaching motto's to the Girls is "Don't Make Excuses, Make Adjustments". KennethGrubbs@Bostonshowstoppers.com
Shanika Smart (Coach Shanika)Shanika Smart is a Native of Boston who Attended the John D
O’ Bryant School of Math and Science from the Seventh
through twelfth grades. During her tenure, Shanika excelled in academics and in sports as a
Starting player for the Varsity Basketball team from the eighth grade
on. Shanika was team captain, and some of her achievements included the MVP
award, and the All Star Team. Shanika’s injury as a junior prevented her from attending North Eastern University on a partial athletic
scholarship. However, Shanika was still awarded a partial athletic scholarship
to Emanuel College where she achieved Unsung Hero and Defensive Threat status
for 2 years.
Shanika has been working with youth groups since 1995 and is
currently the Athletic Director for Madison Park High School. She is an assistant coach of the John
D. O’ Bryant Lady Tigers, a personal trainer and conditioning coach for MYCW
AAU Boys team, as well as a mentor to young men and women.
ShanikaSmart@Bostonshowstoppers.com
Anthony Scarpa (Coach Scarpa) Anthony Scarpa is a East Boston Native and proud father of 3 girls. Anthony attended East Boston High School where he excelled at football as well as other sports. He later attended North Eastern University majoring in Business Administration. Anthony was Co-Coach of the 2009 Braintree Undefeated Division 1 metro-west championship 4th grade Girls Basketball Team. The following year, he took the same 5th grade team to a South Shore championship win with only 1 loss for the season, and this year finished as the top seeded 6th grade team in the South Shore League.
Anthony is the Girls Travel Basketball Director for the town of Braintree, MA., and is also on the Board of the South Shore Girls Basketball League.
Anthonyscarpa@bostonshowstoppers.com