About Coaches/Scouts & Contributors:

Kara Leary

Kara has a successful history in girls and women's basketball over numerous years as a player and as a coach.

As a coach, Kara has successfully built the Crusaders program into a recognized group throughout the country. Her teams over the years have captured numerous AAU and travel team titles and accolades including a AAU National Championship, a USJN tourney championship, a Boo Williams Tourney Championship, and numerous AAU state titles.

The program's emphasis on developing players by focusing on fundamentals and team play has been a successful formula for many of the Crusaders players that now are playing at the collegiate level. Over 50+ former Crusaders are playing or will be playing at the Division I, II or Division III levels while getting their education fully or partially financed including such institutions as Dartmouth, Harvard, Brown, Stanford, Virginia, Holy Cross and Boston College. In addition, many of the program's players have been recognized as the top players in their states, regions, and the country. Many of the program's players have been recognized as All State/All Scholastic, State Players of the Year, and national All Americans.

On the club side, not only has Kara coached her team to a national championship (the only known New England based D1 AAU National Championship on the girls basketball side) and numerous top finishes at national club tournaments, she has coached for USA Basketball as the Head Coach of the East squad in 2003 for the inaugural USA Developmental Festival. And, Kara has rounded out her coaching experience with stints as a coach at the prestigious Nike All American Camp (2003 & 2004) for the top 80 prep players in America and the NIKE Regional Skills Academy - East (2007) for the top 40 prospects in the Eastern Region.

On the high school side, Kara coached at Nashua High School from 1999-2001. Over her two year tenure as the coach of Nashua HS, her teams compiled a 42-0 record in the state of NH (46-4 overall) and captured two NH Class L State Championships and two Top 20 National Rankings by USA Today and other national publications. For her efforts, Kara was named 2001 WBCA District I Coach of the Year.

As a player in college, Kara played for Muffet McGraw at the University of Notre Dame. As three year starter, Kara helped the Irish squad to three conference championships and three postseason appearances during her career. Kara captained the Irish teams during her junior and senior season before graduating in 1994. She then went on to play professionally in Switzerland for one season.

On the prep side, Kara played under the legendary John Fagula at Nashua HS in Nashua, NH. Kara played the point guard position and helped the Nashua program capture two state titles and two national rankings during her career. She was an All State performer for Nashua who was recognized as an All American by Converse when they named her NH Player of the Year during her senior year.

Wayne Lafley

Wayne Lafley began his coaching career at Hazen Union High School under his mentor Steve Pratt. During that time Hazen went to four final fours and won one DIII boys state championship. Wayne also helped run Wilcat AAU, serving as the head coach for it's 17u boys team. That team featured 8 all-state players. Wayne then moved to Chicago where he began working for Full Package Athletics. While working at Full Package Wayne helped develop some of the areas top high school and college prospects. In 2004, Wayne moved back to Vermont and created Lone Wolf Athletics. The goal at Lone Wolf was to provide aspiring basketball players with quality skill development. The success of Lone Wolf and Wayne is evident with many Lone Wolf kids receiving D1 & DII basketball scholarships. Countless other Lone Wolf kids have gone on to be all-state, all-conference, and all-league performers. In 2006, Wayne was hired as Affiliate head coach of the Vermont Frost Heaves. The Frost Heaves are a men's professional team that plays in the Premier Basketball League. Today Wayne skill develops hundreds of junior high, high school, college, and pro basketball players each year.

Dudley Davis

In 1995, Dudley founded the YES! Program a local non-profit organization whose mission is to provide “applied” hands on experience in education, athletics & multi-media production to a diverse group of youth. The YES! Program is currently celebrating its 15th year anniversary. Over the years, theYES! Program has served over 4,000 young basketball players- many of whom have gone on and played Division I, II & III.

In 2005, Dudley’s formed The Basketball Academy, which has developed some of the top Division I, II & III college basketball prospects in Maine to institutions like (Maryland University, Stanford University, Bently University, and more).

In April 2009, Dudley launched Youth News & Entertainment Television (YNETV- www.ynetv.com)- a diverse youth video on-demand service. Today, YNETV is closely approximating 300 members, fast approaching over 15,000 + videos downloaded and gets over 250,000 + hits pre months on the site.

Dudley is nationally recognized and credited for starting one of the first ever youth-run, youth-produced independent television production company in America. Dudley has taken up the challenge of giving young people a voice in America’s vibrant democracy. Over the last 15 years, Dudley has trained young people to be active producers (instead of consumers) of TV programs geared towards their peers. Today, these young talented students have become the writers, directors, engineers, camera operators, and talent for YNETV television shows- producing over 800 television programs, which have aired on CBS, FOX, UPN, and Time Warner Cable in Maine. These young people have also produced work that has been featured both regionally and nationally on MYTV, ESPN and NBC. Many of Dudley’s former students are now working in the television media industry- working for HBO, CNN & FOX.

Dudley was educated in the public schools of New York City. He first attended Simon Baruch middle school and Seward Park High School. Dudley played college basketball at Mount Wachussets Community College & finished up at The University of Southern Maine in 1984. He received his bachelor’s degree in Social Work in 1984 from the University of Southern Maine. From there, Dudley went on to graduate school at the University of New England where he received a Master’s degree in Health Psychology in 1989.

Bill Coughlin

In 1990 Bill Coughlin, along with a few dedicated volunteers, organized the RI Breakers Girls Basketball Club. Since 1990, the Breakers has evolved into one of the most prestigious AAU girls program in the North East.

Many college coaches recognize the club as one of the top AAU programs in the north east that consistently prepares young ladies to play collegiate basketball. The program has successfully helped place over 100 young women in some of the best Division 1, 2 & 3 collegiate basketball programs in the USA.

The RI Breakers, under Coughlin's leadership, were the first club to bring college exposure to the New England area with the Northeast Elite College Showcases & Commotion by the Ocean Tournament, attracting over 170 teams annually.

Bill is a former teacher and Director of Health & Physical Education. Coach Coughlin is a graduate of UMASS Amherst and Michigan State University.