New Staff at Paul VI to Make WCAC Even More Dangerous

Ron Bailey, Publisher

November 8, 2007 – The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, one of the most competitive high school hoops conferences in America has just become more so, as member institution Paul VI (VA) welcomes a new coaching staff with Glenn Farello as its leader: Not that the old one, led by Levi Franklin, was not well led, but the current regime has injected an unmistakable new life into the program.

That energy was evident when talking to Farello at a recent grade school hoops tournament held at the Fairfax, VA-based school.

“I’m really comfortable” said Farello, the coach with a 163-68 record at Eleanor Roosevelt (MD) over nine years as head coach (he spent an additional five as an assistant there). “The support here at the school has been incredible”.

At Roosevelt, Farello, here teaching your players, won four Maryland Regional titles, and one state crown (2002). Thirty five of his players have gone on to play college ball, while 10 have competed professionally.

Rumors persisted in the past that Paul VI didn’t provide a supportive environment for student athletes, whether academically or by promoting diversity.

Farello dispelled those notions, stating he polled the student athletes present before his hiring, with their response indicating a strong level of comfort with the school. Additionally, Paul VI’s administration, led by its principal, Virginia Colwell, said the coach, “is committed to greater diversity”, as doing so “is part of the Catholic tradition”.

Early returns are good in Farello estimation, as he supplied the administration has been nothing but supportive of the program and its young people, something that would continue.

Also ensuring that environment exists going forward - which Farello several times referred to as a “family focus” - will not only be him, but the program’s coaching staff and student athletes.

“I had a great group of guys who worked me at Roosevelt” recalled Paul VI’s Farello. “A big part of the building process is the people you work with.

“The coaches we have care about the kids. They like to teach and care”.

Members of Paul VI's coaching stable

That would include a staff of nine men, excluding Farello, who will be spread out over the varsity, junior varsity, and freshman teams:

Ken Johnson – Associate Head Coach Varsity, Head Coach Junior Varisty
Os Bangura – Freshman Head Coach
Nima Omidvar – Varsity Assistant
Adrian ‘Red’ Autrey – Varsity Assistant
Mike Namian – Varsity Assitant
Kevin Jones – Junior Varsity Assistant
Anthony Moses – Junior Varsity Assistant
Damien Burk – Freshman Assistant
Derrick Harvey – Freshman Assistant

The staff as compiled has a wealth of hoops experience, ranging from having worked with Farello at Roosevelt, to being high school head men, to playing in the Big East and other collegiate leagues, to AAU/travel team expertise.

Farello, greatly values what his program’s assistants bring to the table, and consequently allows them to do their job.

Farello (center), with Ken Johnson and Mike Namian.

“Everybody works with all the kids” he shared, before noting “Having people with basketball background and are well established makes me feel good”.

Going forward, expect Farello et al to continue recruiting young men to Paul VI that first embody “Motiviation, focus and discipline”, as well as “kids that want a challenge”, both academically and athletically.

A prime example of a young person that embraces challenges, is Raven Barber, a 6’7”, 210 lb frontcourt player Farello labeled “a person who is an example”; the young guy is from Edgewood, MD, and commutes to attend classes Paul VI’s Fairfax, VA location by taking two trains.

Other players that exhibit the program’s ethos are core players Blake Bozeman, Justin Burrell, Darren Warren, and Curtis Symonds, Jr.

One geographic area that Farello plans to focus on, is Northern Virginia. “I want to build up the Virginia-based area” said the coach. “Having been on the other side of the bridge (PG County, MD), we will maintain those ties. But we are going to work in Northern Virginia too”.

Whether the young people come from the other side of Baltimore, PG County, NOVA, or the moon, expect them to play team oriented ball, compete hard, and back down from no one.

Paul VI’s head coach also lauded the program’s pervious leader for the foundation left, a point he also researched before accepting the job. “Levi had a great program in place” he said. “It was disciplined and fundamental”, which according to Farello are cornerstones of his personal basketball philosophy.

If readers can fathom it, the WCAC just got, as young people say, more ‘vicious’.