COACH AND DIRECTOR HORACE JENKINS

Coach and director Horace Jenkins is the true definition of never give up. He grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey and didn't start playing basketball until the 8th grade, playing mostly backup all through high school and sitting out his senior year due to academic ineligibility. He began college at Union County College only to drop out and take on the responsibility of being a father to his then infant son, Hakim. He is noticed by the coach at William Paterson University while playing in Newark and decides to take him up on his offer to play basketball at WPU. He would lead the Division 3 team to two Final Fours and set the school record for points (1,940) and single season average (22.1ppg). Not drafted after being projected to go in the first round, he moved to Italy and played overseas for Italy then Greece. After being spotted by the Detroit Pistons head coach, he is invited to play in a summer league and eventually lands a deal playing with Detroit. These days Horace Jenkins is co-director of Team Jenkins AAU alongside his wife, Tenesha. He continues to pursue his passion of giving back to the community and helping the younger generation work towards their goals on and off the court. 

Daryl "Stro" Strother begins his second season as a coach with Team Jenkins. Last season he was the head coach for the 7th grade boys' team. This season he will be the head coach for the 8th grade boys' team and the 9th Grade Boys Red team. Prior to coaching for Team Jenkins, Stro was the program director for the Little Liners Boys Basketball Program, a feeder program for the Phillipsburg Liners High School Boys basketball team. He was the director for two seasons along with coaching the 6th, 7th and 8th grade boys' teams for four seasons. He also was the head coach for the Lopatcong Township Panthers Boys Basketball 3rd and 4th grade teams. His 4th grade team won the CBL Championship. His coaching career began at Essex Catholic Boys High School in East Orange, NJ as an assistant varsity coach in the early 1990's. He also lettered in basketball and football there prior to graduating in 1986. US Basketball Gold Coach Licensed since 2019, Coach Stro graduated from the College of NJ in December 1991. He also played point guard for TCNJ. He and his wife Mo are the proud parents of three children, Ayana, Jay'von and Jaysen.

Coach Swift began coaching basketball 8 years ago on a fluke, checking the box to volunteer as a head coach for his son who was then in 5th grade, but not believing he would be chosen. Coach Swift was chosen and immediately made a connection to helping the youth pull the best out of themselves on the court. He continues to coach for the Blairstown Youth Basketball Association up to today. During that time, he took over as President of the Warren County Basketball League in New Jersey and Vice President of the Blairstown Youth Basketball Association. He left the WCBL to begin coaching AAU basketball for the Lehigh Valley Force, where he coached for 5 seasons. He aided in implementing the first Travel Basketball program in Blairstown, for which he also coached and is director, and runs many camps and clinics. He also was an assistant coach for the Bethlehem Christian School High School Varsity team, helping the school enter the PIAA for the first time. He is currently a USA Basketball Gold Licensed Coach and an AAU Certified Coach. Coach Swift believes in working hard, earning what you get, and pulling the best out of each player. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, Allison, and their 6 children and is coaching the Team Jenkins 9th Grade Boys Black Team for Spring 2023.