Community

WCC announces return of basketball

Westchester Community College, WCC, has announced the return of its men’s and women’s basketball teams with the new seasons beginning later this year. New coaches have been hired and were introduced at a press conference on Wednesday, July 26, at 10 a.m. in the Hartford Hall Boardroom on the college’s Valhalla campus.

Nesta Felix, Westchester Community College’s new women’s basketball coach, and Sean Kelly, the men’s basketball coach.
Photo courtesy GoWccVikings.com

A national search attracted more than two hundred highly qualified applicants including former professional basketball players and highly touted coaches from a variety of competitive levels. Sean Kelly has been named the men’s coach and Nesta Felix has been tabbed as the women’s coach.

“This promises to be an enriching experience for many of our students, not only those who will field the teams,” said Dr. Belinda S. Miles, president of WCC. “The student athletes will have an opportunity to showcase their skills on the court, while their fellow students will be able to show their enthusiasm and exhibit school spirit during the upcoming season. This will truly enhance the overall college experience for all.”

“I am pleased to be able to announce that basketball is returning to Westchester Community College,” said Mike Belfiore, WCC athletic director. “We have begun to recruit players for both teams and look forward to the fall when our student-athletes will again be able to compete against other institutions in the region.”

Kelly, whose Bronx Community College teams posted a 74-43 record over five seasons, advancing to an NJCAA regional title game and two regional Final Fours, also coached at Bergen Community College. At that New Jersey institution, he led the team to an undefeated 30-0 regular season campaign in 2009. Prior to Bergen, he was an assistant coach at Mercy College. Kelly earned his B.A. at the University of Scranton and his M.A. at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Felix was the women’s basketball coach at Yeshiva University from 2012 to 2015 and was named the Hudson Valley Athletic Conference Co-Coach of the Year in 2014. She also has coached at Woodlands High School in Hartsdale, New York with a 15-5 record, currently coaches a Scarsdale, eighth-grade tri-county girls basketball team, and was assistant women’s basketball coach at Monroe College from 2002 to 2008. She received her B.A. from Iona College and her M.A.at Monroe College.

This fall marks the return of the men’s and women’s basketball after a two-year hiatus. Both teams will compete at the Division II level. Practices for the new teams begin in October with the regular season games commencing in November 2017.

Members of the press were invited to a press conference at the college on Wednesday, July 26 at which time the details of the new coaches and dates for upcoming games were announced. Meanwhile, prospective college students interested in trying out for the teams should contact Westchester Community College’s new athletic director at Michael.Belfiore@sunywcc.edu.