Manuel Martinez

Manuel Martinez, or Coach Manny as he's known by many, has been coaching basketball for 35 years. He first came to the YMCA looking for a place to help his players develop into stronger athletes. 

In the beginning, it was a challenge to guide his players in a more competitive environment. But with time and support from parents and Y staff, Coach Manny learned to dig deeper and find solutions to help his team develop experience and commitment. He returns to the Y season after season because he wants to give back to the community by helping kids grow into better people, and the Y is a good place to develop players and teams. 

"I've seen myself grow through coaching as a mentor, teacher of the game, and father figure," he shared, "Sports are about life lessons – discipline, structure, accountability, responsibility and work ethic."