What They Are Saying

 "Coach Coard and Berkshire gave me the opportunity to compete and believe in something bigger than myself. One is pushed as an athlete on the court and as a student in the classroom. His passion, kindness and selflessness were instrumental in my development as an athlete and a man. I am truly grateful; if I were to go back and do anything different, it would be to take Coard's advice sooner!"

Rob Jacobs - Berkshire '04, Daemon College '09, Director of Finance-Bluecore

 "My four years at Lawrence Academy was a roller coaster. Filled with ups and downs, but more ups than downs.  As I sit in my apartment in Germany typing this out before I go to practice, I reflect and smile knowing that I wouldn’t have changed that experience for the world.  I was very fortunate to have a mentor, coach, and math tutor in  Coach Coard. He pushed me outside of my comfort zone, allowing  me to grow as a man, student, and ball player. he was always on me about “getting it done” in the class room and on the court. I would always express to him how hard I was trying and he would not care, he would simply reply “trying is lying, get it done.” And that stuck with me throughout my college career and still to this day with my professional career.  " 

Denzel Brito- LA'10, Loyola University. Professional Basketball Player

"I can't imagine myself being where I am now without Hoop-Skool. It is more than a skill program to help athletes hone their craft. It is a "stepping stone" to get ahead academically, athletically and in life. I had the honor and pleasure to be amongst the first players to experience the program, winning a championship at Lawrence Academy. Coach Coard is also my  mentor and I am thankful to him and Mrs. Coard for allowing me to be a part of their family"

Darryl Cato-Bishop - LA '09, NC State '14 Professional Football Player

 "I spent my sophomore year at Lawrence Academy. One of my biggest regrets is not spending my Junior and Senior years with coach Coard.   Coach Coard was the first coach to really start teaching me about the game and improving my basketball IQ, he believed in me and had high hopes for me. He opened his doors and his family to myself and my teammates, he praised us like family does when we did well and disciplined us like family does when we were slacking athletically, academically and socially. I’m extremely thankful for that year  and would send my kids to learn under him any day of the week ."

Ashley Hamilton - LA, Loyola Marymount '12, Professional Basketball Player

 "Prep school definitely prepared me athletically and academically to hit the ground running in college. Many of my teammates, who did not have the same opportunity, struggled with the Transition from high school to college. Coach Coard believed in me as a freshman and was instrumental in building my confidence as a young player.   He made me believe that I could play at a high level and challenged me to fearlessly go at the older and extremely talented players we had in the program every day. Without that experience, I can safely say I would have never played division one college basketball.  "  

Sam Martin - Berkshire '07, Yale '12, Stanford Law '16, Professional Basketball Player

 What Kenny Coard possesses as a Coach should be the main ingredient for all Coaches and that is being a genuine Teacher/Coach.  

Basketball is a “thinking person’s game” and Kenny Coard is a “thinking person.” With an exceptionally high basketball IQ, Kenny takes his passion for teaching and learning and transforms the basketball court into a classroom.  A Man’s Man with the patience of Job and the wisdom of Solomon, Kenny provides inspiration, motivation and a caring hand which builds self-confidence and self-esteem  Kenny Coard has even taught me a few things… and I’m his Mentor! 

Russel Shuler - Founder/CEO of YES Inc.  (Youth Education through Sports Inc.)