BASKETBALL DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE OF SAN JOSE
COACHES
Meet the coaches of BDL!
BERT KITADE
I grew up in Sacramento and played and coached in various Japanese Leagues. After graduating with a MBA, I moved from Sacramento to San Jose to work for a CPA firm and, later, for Capcom in an executive position. I was not around basketball since I left Sacramento until I started to coach a team at the East Valley YMCA.
After several seasons, I wanted more control over the amount of practice time. Therefore, I with some of the parents decided to form our own league using Mt. Pleasant High School gym. From the Japanese leagues I played and coached in, I adapted a lot of their ideas and techniques to organize BDL.
From the original thirty-two players back in 2005, the league has grown to over 150 players today. This league has been word of mouth because we wanted to limit the number of players, since we have limited resources and the league is made up of volunteers.
One of my favorite player divisions to coach in recent years has been the Rookies. I have been amazed at how well they play at such young ages. I also enjoy talking to many of the original players who comeback to see me. Many are now in college and some of them have even graduated.
A couple of my favorite quotes are from John Wooden, formerly the coach of the UCLA Bruins, “You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you" and “The coach is first of all a teacher.”
CUTUM DERECHO
I am a former player in BDL since season 1. I started coaching when I outgrew the age limit to participate in the league. I have been coaching consistently since then, which puts me at about 6 years of experience. Just a little background information about myself, I was born and raised here in San Jose and went to San Jose State University graduating with a Business degree in 2013. During my time as a student in college I worked for several organizations that revolved around working with kids. I have worked for Skyhawks sports and the Golden State Warriors Basketball camps. I currently work for the City of San Jose and also serve as the assistant coach for The Harker School Girls Varsity basketball team. I have been with the City of San Jose for almost a year and have been with The Harker School for 5 years. Basketball is my number 1 passion. I love watching kids grow as players and as people. There are a lot of parallels between the game of basketball and how life works. I just hope to uncover and reveal these life lessons to the kids I coach and mentor.
MADI HOTCHKISS
BIA HOTCHKISS
I have been coaching for almost 3 years and have been playing for BDL since the very first season in 2005. I have played in the juniors, seniors and the adult league. I’ve been playing basketball since I was nine years old beginning at the YMCA then transitioning to BDL when I was eleven years old until now. I played four years of varsity basketball at Silver Creek High School. When I played for Silver Creek High School, during my junior year I was co-captain and received the Offensive Player award and during my senior year, I was co-captain again and received the Most Valuable Player award and the BVAL First Team All League. Aside from my accomplishments as a player, as a coach, I see it as an accomplishment to watch the kids I coach, improve over time. It’s a rewarding feeling knowing that I’m taking part in the kids’ improvement and knowledge as basketball players. The only coaching experience I’ve had has been through BDL coaching the rookie and junior division. I’m coaching mostly because I want to give back to BDL everything that the league has given me all these years – the love and knowledge of the game of basketball, the good memories, and most importantly the people, the coaches who’ve helped grow into the player and person I am today, and the players, who have become some of my greatest friends. I hope that as I coach these kids, they will be able to gain all or some of this through their experiences playing for BDL.
LEANN MIYASHIRO
This is my second year coaching, but I started playing in BDL since Season 28 (2010). I started playing basketball in a Japanese League from 2003-2008. Then I played 2 years JV and 2 years Varsity basketball at Silver Creek High School. I’m coaching because I love the sport of basketball and love working with kids. I hope to pass on all that I’ve learned and am still learning to the kids. Seeing these kids work hard and improve right in front of me and also have fun at the same time is what makes coaching worthwhile.
KIIRA RODRIGUEZ
Coach Kiira started coaching at BDL in 2006. Her playing experience comes from playing basketball for San Jose High School, San Jose State University, and San Jose City College. Her coaching experience includes: Head Coach for Girls’ Varsity at Yerba Buena High School, Head Coach for Girls’ JV at Evergreen Valley High School, Assistant Coach for Girls’ Varsity at Evergreen Valley High School, Head Coach for Girls' Varsity at Notre Dame, and Head Coach for Girls' Varsity at Evergreen Valley High School.
ERNIE GARCIA
I coached at BDL for 6 years and I played for Bert before there even was BDL. I played 3 years of varsity for Mt Pleasant High School. I went from being a bench warmer in middle school to becoming a starter for varsity in high school.
Another big honor and accomplishment is receiving the Hotchkiss award. My coaching experience is only from BDL.
I love basketball, it is my passion. I also enjoy working with kids. Seeing a child get better in basketball is very rewarding. Also, understanding that working hard pays off in anything. I want to instill the love and passion in the kids that I have for this game.
DANIZA RODRIGUEZ
Former BDL Coaches
NICKY HOTCHKISS
I’ve been with BDL as a player and coach. I’ve coached for 4 years mainly coaching the rookies as they develop their skills for the game of basketball. As a player, I’ve been with BDL since 2006. I’ve played basketball my whole life and it evolves around my family. My playing experience arranges around from different leagues and different teams I’ve played for in my playing experience. I’ve played in AAU, NJB, and most of my time spent playing and coaching for BDL. My goal as a coach and player is to become better than you were yesterday. To contribute to everyday success on and off the court, teaching valuable life lessons that were passed down to me. I am coaching because I love the game of basketball. How much more great it is to be apart of something you love when you’re helping others become greater themselves. From my standpoint, coaching is something I must do as a purpose of living.
KEITH MASUDA
Coach Keith started coaching at BDL in 2006. He graduated out of UCLA with a Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology and a minor in Economics. He received his CPA certificate through Ernst& Young. He is currently a director of Accounting in Palo Alto Networks.
ANTHONY ROWE
Coach Anthony coached at BDL for about a year and has played in this league since Season 1. He played 2 years of JV and 2 years of Varsity at Oak Grove High School. His accomplishments as a player are: winning Most Improved his sophomore year, winning Coach’s Award his junior year, and winning Sportsman of the Year Award his senior year.
ALFREDO ALVES
Coach Alfredo coached at BDL for 4 years and played in all Adult league seasons. His playing experience comes from 2 years JV and 1 year Varsity at Valley High School in Sacramento and 1 year Varsity at Wilcox High School in Santa Clara. He spent 4 years playing in the Asian League for the Sacramento Rebels and San Jose Zebras as well as playing AAU basketball in his high school years. His coaching experience not only comes from BDL but he also spent 2 years as the Assistant Coach for Women’s basketball at Mission College in Santa Clara from 2007-2009. After 2 years at Mission, he became Head Coach of the Girls’ Basketball team at The Harker School in San Jose since 2009. On top of that, he was also Head Coach for the Class of 2014 San Jose Ninjas Girl’s Basketball team.
His accomplishments as a coach are his overall record of 63 wins and 36 losses in 4 seasons as Head Coach for Girls’ Basketball at The Harker School. In 2010-2011, his team broke a school record of Most Wins in 1 seasons finishing with 21 wins. That same season his team qualified for CCS Division for playoffs for the first time in 6 years and gave the Girls’ Basketball program its first Payoff win in history.
Currently Coach Alfredo is the Head Coach for Boys Varsity Basketball at The Harker School.
JONAH ALVES
Coach Jonah coached at BDL for about 3 years and played in the Adult league for about 2 years. Her playing experience comes from 4 years Varsity at Wilcox High School and 2 years at the intercollegiate level at Mission College. Her coaching experience not only comes from BDL, but she was also an Assistant Coach for the San Jose Ninja’s 2014 Girls’ Basketball team.
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Her accomplishments as a player are: 1st place in SCVAL El Camino Div. League (04-05) and 2nd place in CCS div. 1 (04-05). Coach Jonah has completed her Master’s Degree at Santa Clara University.
RAYMOND RAYMUNDO
Coach Raymond coached at BDL for a year and played in this league since Season 3. He played at Yerba Buena High School on Varsity his freshman year and then transferred to Piedmont Hills High School where he played on JV his sophomore year and his next 2 years on Varsity.
ART DERECHO
I have been playing here at BDL since 2004. I have played organized basketball since the age of 5. I’ve played for the YMCA, BDL, and AAU Basketball team San Jose Hilltoppers. As a coach, this is my second year coaching at BDL. I am coaching because I want to give back to BDL. The league has provided me a 2nd home, a place for friendship, a place of refuge, and experience working with different people. I want to share what the league has provided me with all the players and coaches. I love working with a team, setting goals, providing a positive environment, and witnessing the kids become young successful people on and off the court.
DENISE PEREZ
I’ve been a fan and supporter of BDL since 2012, thanks to Coach Art, and have been recently inspired to become a more active volunteer. This is my third season coaching the Rookies at BDL. I played basketball at Chaboya Middle School, but took a break from basketball to pursue women’s ice hockey. After having played ice hockey for 7 years, one of those years at the NCAA collegiate level, I have learned the importance of being a coachable athlete. I am coaching at BDL to give back to the community and to help encourage the younger athletes to learn how to love the game of basketball. My goal is to help the kids embrace the idea of good sportsmanship, teamwork, and discipline—essential components of what makes a great athlete.
LUAN TRAN LE
I played in BDL for about 4-5 years mostly when I was still a high school student, however this is my first year coaching. I didn’t start playing the actual sport of basketball until my first year of high school, but I played one year of varsity basketball for Silver Creek High as a senior. BDL has been like a second family to me. I didn’t know about the league until 2007, but once I got the opportunity to participate in this league, I got a lot out of it. BDL has helped me become a good basketball player but an even better person. I don’t have any prior experience coaching as this is my first year coaching in BDL. I decided to start refereeing games and coaching players as a way to give back to a foundation that helped me grow a lot. Although some kids won’t be able to play for their school team, they always have the chance to come out and compete in BDL. While I enjoy seeing kids develop their basketball skills, I love it more when they apply what they learn off the court.
ORVILLE BAGOOD
Coach Orville started coaching at BDL in 2006. He graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications.
CLAIRE YOSHIOKA
This is my first year coaching and I’ve been playing in this league since 2011. I played about 7 years in a league called CYS, 3 years on Silver Creek High School’s JV team, and 1 year on Varsity. I am a Hotchkiss Award recipient in Season 38 and through BDL, I have improved a lot as a player and have also become a better person overall. I have learned many important skills from BDL that apply both on and off the court. As a coach, I would like to provide that to the kids and help them become better players and also better people.
JENNALYN FONG
I have been coaching for about 3 years and have played in BDL since Season 8 (2006). I played 2 years JV and 2 years Varsity at Silver Creek High School. My only coaching experience is from BDL where I have won back to back junior championships. I am coaching because I want to give back to this league that has given me so much and has changed my life in more ways than one. I love kids and the fact that I get to have an influence on their life as they grow up. I love seeing kids grow on and off the court. I hope to pass on the knowledge that has been taught to me by my past coaches here at BDL and in high school to the kids I coach.
ALEX HANG
I’ve been coaching at BDL for a year now and have played in the league since Season 23. I’ve been playing basketball for fun since I was young- nothing too serious or competitive. Prior to BDL, I’ve never coached anywhere else. I am coaching because it's fun to see kids and grow into great basketball players and young adults. It feels good to help all the kids out and be a part of their basketball development. Seeing the kids have fun and become better players is an accomplishment for me. I've won various championships as a player back in the day.
SHAWN SIPANYA
I have played in BDL for about 7 years. I played in BDL and never AAU but still developed well as a player. I started all 4 years at Andrew Hill high school, 2 years on JV and 2 years on Varsity and received "all league honors" every year throughout my high school career. I was team MVP my senior year. This will be my third season coaching. I am coaching because first off, I just want to help out and give back to BDL for helping me became a better player and also a better person. I would also like to help out the little kids and see them develop as a player and a person as well. My goal as a coach is to help get the kids get better and most importantly, have fun along the way!