Mr. David Vasquenza is owner and director of WINS For Life. He has a range of valuable work experience and knowledge
in teaching, training, coaching and motivating individuals and groups of all ages. For over thirty-five years Mr. Vasquenza has
served adults and students for public schools and various educational organizations. He was employed at Oak Hill School
for over 20 years as a counselor and staff trainer. The WINS For Life workshops and staff training events that he created
and facilitates serve as professional development hours for teachers, child care providers, and various other businesses. He
is a member of the Connecticut Parks and Recreation Association (CRPA) and Masachusetts (MRPA). He has hosted various
WINS For Life events in 5 different states (CT., MA., RI., VA., and GA)
Mr. Vasquenza is a guest speaker and clinician at the Basketball Hall of Fame, where he has hosted over 30 clinics. He has successfully coached basketball at many levels (college, high school, AAU, middle school). From 1996-2000, Coach
Vasquenza assisted Worcester State College to the best four-year record in the 75-year history of the Men’s Basketball
program. During this time, the Lancers earned the first regular season MASCAC Championship title in school history (1999-
2000) and two ECAC berths (1998, 2000). From 1994-96 "Coach V" led Connecticut Starters AAU boy's teams to three
consecutive D1 State Championships. Coach Vasquenza has worked at summer camps hosted by legendary coaches Lute
Olsen, Don Nelson, Gary Williams, Rick Barnes, and Jim Calhoun. For 9-years he was Asst. Camp Director and coach at Hall
of Famer Jim Calhoun's Camp.
In 2009, Mr. Vasquenza established the successful WINS For Life All Stars AAU Basketball program. The program grew
quickly as players elevated their skills. By the 2013 high school season, 20 freshmen and sophomores were playing on
their varsity team! In the 2013 AAU season, Coach V's 14u team was 27-7 and won four tournament titles. Six players made
their varsity team as freshmen. In 2014, the 15u team started the season with a 24-4 record, won three championships,
and earned a bid to the D3 Nationals. In 2016, the 17u team won the Silver Medal at the CT. State Tourney and finished in
third place at Zero Gravity Nationals. In 2017, four members from that 17u team earned High School All-State honors, and
nine players were selected All-Conference. Over 35 former WINS players have advanced to play at the collegiate level,
including at prestogious universities such as Notre Dame, UConn and Yale..
Mr. David Vasquenza has led a multifaceted career in education, human services, and coaching with a commitment
to helping others. His career focus has been to assist and lead individuals with their physical, intellectual, social, and
moral development. The mission statement is "to help as many people as possible, in as many ways as possible".
Administrative Leadership
David Vasquenza, Owner / Director (click here for full professional bio)
Lisa Johnson, Administrative Assistant
Kelly Coleman, Athletic Trainer. PhD, ATC: Head Athletic Trainer, Doctor of Philosophy (UConn '20), Masters, Exercise
Science (JMU, '12)
Connecticut Staff:
Alison Kozik: 2022 Graduate Ellington High School, National Honor Society & Student Council Member (EHS),
2022 Class M All-State Girls Lacrosse, 2021 & 2022 ALL-NCCC team Girls Lacrosse, Two-year captain EHS Girls Basketball,
two-year Captain EHS Girls Lacrosee, 2018 WINS Leadership Award. College plans: Nursing Major & D3 Lacrosse.
Collin Keane: Tolland High School Assistant Boys Varsity coach, 2019 graduate ECSU.
Dan Brocke: 2021 Univ. of Connecticut graduate (3.79 GPA), two-year member of UConn Mens Basketball team (2017-
2019), All-State player at Hall High School (2016-17), 3-year member of WINS For Life All Stars (2014-17).
Dom Boutot: 2019 graduate of Tolland High School, National Honor Society Member, 3-year member of Tolland Boys Varsity
Basketball team, Business Major at Bryant Collge (Class of '23), member of Bryant College Intramural Basketball National
Final Four team, 2017 WINS For Life Leadership Award
Eyad Anwer:
Gary Burke: Canton High School Asstistant Varsity coach, retired 25 years USAF, Central Conn. State Univ. graduate,
played basketball for Myrtle Beach Air Force Base
Frank Mansella: Coventry Travel Basketball (President), Multi-year WINS coach
Jamille Hayes: South Windsor BoysTravel Basketball, Bolton High School
Jevon Williams: East Hartford H.S. Varsity Boy's Basketball coach, educator East Hartford Public Schools,
former college player at Univ. of Connecticut (Storrs), and UConn Avery Point, UConn graduate.
John Cessario: Southington High School Varsity Boys Head Coach, 24-year high school coach, educator at CCMC School,
1994 Bentley College Graduate (Bachelors in Finance), led 2013-14 East Windsor High School to NCCC conference
Championship & 23-2 record. One of Connecticut High School Basketball's top Boys Varsity Coaches.
John Winer: CREC Athletic Director, NIAAA Certified Master Athletic Admin., former college coach at Leigh University,
and Univ. of New Haven, Masters Degree (Education), Clark University, 2004
Jonathan Myette: East Hartford High School Girls Varsity coach, led team to 2022 Class LL State Champions (23-2 record).
Social worker at East Hartford High School. Masters Social Work (NYU, Class of 2012),
2011 Graduate of Eastern Conn. State Collge (BASW). Outstanding motivator and team building skills,
Jordan Richard: Bolton High School, Boys Varsity head coach, UConn Avery Point Men's Basketball captain,
Masters Degree: Southern New England Univ, Bachelors Degree; Univ. of Conn, educator at Wheeler Clinic.
Kristin Sitek: former player & senIor captain (SUNY New Paltz); 3x All-Conference player & 1,000 pt. scorer (Ellington HS)
Mark Corey: Conard High School Assistant Varsity coach, UConn graduate, three sport team captain at Hall High School,
(Class of 2011), educator at West Hartford Public Schools. Outstanding leadership skills, well-respected coach and teacher.
Matt Gionfriddo: Hall High School, Assistant Varsity Coach, educator at West Hartford Public Schools; ECSU graduate
Meghann Morhard: Conard H.S. grad '19, Captain, All Conference, school record (3-pters season), attends Villanova Univ.
Mike Morhardt: 1994 University of Hartford graduate (Bachelors Degree, Communictions), former 2-sport NCAA athlete at
University of Hartford, former 12 year Varsity Basketball coach at Stafford High School (Boys Varsity) & Windsor Locks High
School (Girls Varsity), 2015 Teacher of the Year (Stafford Public Schools), educator at CCMC School.
Very talented Teacher, highly skilled Coach, highly effective leader.
Nick Gomeau:
Rashamel Jones: Assistant Men's Basketball Coach at Univ. of St. Joseph's, 1999 co-captain at UConn (Jim Calhoun’s
1st national championship team), member of three Big East title teams, named to All-Big East Tourney Team as a junior,
played professionally in Australia, three-time CIAC All State player at Trinity Catholic (Stamford, CT).
Ryan Aeschliman: East Granby Varsity Basketball coach, educator at EGHS, former college player at Kean Univ. (NJ)
Scott Curtis: former Ellington High School Boys Varsity Basketball head coach, teacher at Ellington Midddle School
Tim Flint: former Coventry High School Varsity Boys Basketball coach, served as Asst. Varsity coach at Canton High School
and Ellington High School. Attended Westfield State College.
Georgia Staff:
Dan Vasquenza: Founder and Owner of VazMan, Inc., worked for 5 years for the Atlanta Hawks (Manager of Corporate
Sponsorships & Premium Hospitality), worked 5 years for Atlanta Falcons Radio Networks (Sales Director & Manager roles),
worked 4 years for Big League Broadcasting / 790 The Zone (Senior Account Manager), Kulture City Board Member & Activist,
Board Member Atlanta Autism Consortium, Advocate & Fundraiser for Chromosome 18 Registry & Research Society.
Dylan Pumpian: Member of University of Tennesee at Martin Mens Basketball Team (Div I, Ohio Valley Conf.), Class of '24;
(Major: Management), standout career at Walton High School: Georgia 7A all-state & first team All-Region, 2021 WHS
Scholar Athlete of the Year award, 2020-21 Region 3 Champions, spotlighted as the “Best Shooter” in Georgia Class 7A.
Nemahn Santos: Member of Woodward Academy 2020 Georgia State Champions (4-AAAA) Boys Basketball team,
2021 graduate (Woodward Academy), National Honor Society member, student at Georgia State University (Class of 2026),
Niquevious Smith: United States Army Veteran (7 years service, 3 tours of duty, seven medals of achievement & multiple
certificates of training), Airborne Paratrooper (3 years), Health & Fitness, Bachelor of Science, Clayton State (Georgia),
Founder of Overly Under Rated Academy (SouthEast Atlanta), coach at Utopian Academy for the Arts
Sydney Umeri: 2017 Masters of Journalism, Major in Comunication/Digital Content (Univ. of Kansas), member of Univ. of Kansas Womens Basketball team (2016-17); 2016 Bachelors of Arts Degree (Media Studies), University of Virgina (graduated
in 3 years), member of Univ. of Virginia Womens Basketball team (2013-16), Senior Social Media Producer for CBS Sports.
Kyle Hill: 2001 NBA Draft: Dallas Mavericks (44th over-all draft pick). Eastern Illinois graduate (1997-2001). Twelve year pro-
career in Europe (competed on teams in France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Croatia)
Taylor Cullinan: Member of kennesaw State University Womens Basketball team.
Aries Johnson:
Julian Baldwin:
Braylin Giddens:
