Michael Rivera
Michael Rivera is founder of the Virginia Hurricanes AAU Girls Basketball Club, its Director of Basketball Operations and the Head of the Hurricanes Lil ‘Canes program for 4th through 6th grade players (9U, 10U and 11u). Michael was the Head Coach of the 1oU Hurricanes team that finished in 6th place at the 2010 AAU National Championship Tournament (Division II) in Orlando Florida in August 2010. In spring 2011, Michael coached the 10U team that competed in the 2011 AAU National Championship Tournament in Hampton, Virginia in June 2011.
In the winter 2011, Michael will coach the 6th grade Division 1 Arlington Grils Travel team that will compete in the Fairfax County Youth Basketball League.
Michael has coached numerous youth sports teams throughout the Northern Virginia area over the past 10 years, including basketball, flag football, baseball and softball. Michael is dedicated to teaching basketball skills and fundamentals.
Patrick Connole
Patrick (Pat) Connole is the head coach of the rising 7th grade Hurricanes squad for 2011-2012, having completed his first AAU season with the Hurricanes as the 6th grade team’s coach. Pat coached the 2011 Hurricanes to second place in the district qualifying tournament, landing a spot at Nationals in Kingsport, Tennessee.
Pat has extensive experience in coaching AAU, travel, and rec league girls basketball, leading teams in the 6th through 9th-grade levels previously for the Matrix organization from 2007-2010 before joining the Hurricanes in late 2010. He also coached travel teams in the Falls Church City system, winning a championship in 2006 as head coach of the 7th grade-level squad.
Pat believes in working with players to help them reach their individual potential within a team environment, and teaching these skills in a positive, safe, and professional organization that respects both the players and their parents.
Pat lives in Falls Church, Virginia.
Carl Travis
Carl Travis will be coaching the Virginia Hurricanes 6th grade team in Fall 2011 through Spring 2012. Coach Travis has coached AAU girls basketball for the Classics Basketball Club in Maryland for the past 7 years (since 2004). He has coached AAU basketball for girls in 2nd grade through 8th grade. Carl was an assistant coach for teams that won AAU District Qualifying Tournaments in the 8th grade division and 6th grade division. As head coach, Carl led teams to a 2nd place finish (8th grade division) and a 3rd place finish (7th
grade team) in AAU District Qualifying Tournaments.
Coach Travis has also coached girls high school basketball for the past 5 years (since 2006). Carl served as an assistant varsity coach for 3 years at St. Andrews Episcopal High School in Bethesda, MD (2006-2009). For the past 2 seasons (2009-2011), Carl has
been an assistant varsity coach at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, MD.
Carl played 4 years on the varsity basketball team at Susquehanna High School in Susquehanna, PA. Afterwards, Carl played Division 2 college basketball at East Stroudsburg University, where he earned a degree in Movement Studies and Exercise Science in 2004.
Carl is a passionate coach, who is dedicated to the physical and mental development of his players. His goal is to teach kids how to play the game of basketball. Carl wants players
to not only play the game, but think the game. Carl stresses individual player skills development and increasing each player’s “basketball IQ.”
Lauren Manners
Lauren Manners’ love of basketball started as a 10 year old when she heard over the loud speaker that her school’s 5th grade team was short on players and joined the team. With her interest peeked, she started attending the University of Oklahoma Women’s Basketball games and volunteered as a ball girl for the OU Women’s team for 3 years – attending both practices and games. Lauren studied under the tutelage of renowned basketball coach Burl Plunkett, who is credited for stabilizing the OU Women’s program in the mid 1990’s. Lauren went on to play AAU ball in middle school and high school during the summers and loved attending countless summer basketball camps. She lettered all four years of high school on the varsity team as a shooting guard. Former OU Assistant Coach Stacy Johnson-Klien recruited Lauren to play Division II NCAA basketball. However, she chose to focus on academics and attended Oklahoma State University majoring in finance and accounting.
Lauren had been looking to resume coaching girls’ basketball when she met Coach Rivera, learned about Virginia Hurricanes Girls Basketball Club, and immediately knew she wanted to join the exciting Hurricanes program. Lauren was honored to be an Assistant Coach for the 10U Hurricanes team that finished in 6th place at the AAU National Championship Tournament in August 2010.
In the Spring 2001, Coach Lauren was an assistant coach witht the Hurricanes developmental team of 3rd and 4th grade girls. Coach Lauren is looking forward to being the Head Coach for a Hurricanes 5th grade team in Spring 2012.
When Coach Lauren is not involved in basketball, she works as an auditor. She also enjoys running 5k/10k races, triathlon training, and church activities.