The Coaches
COACHED BY PEOPLE WHO KNOW THE JOURNEY.
Great coaching is more than knowing the game. It's knowing how to teach it, challenge players and help them understand what comes next.
Decades of Player Development · College Experience · AAU Coaching · Real Basketball Instruction
Rich Leary
Founder & Head Coach
- Co-founded US Hoops in 1999
- 25+ years developing NJ players
Rich co-founded US Hoops in 1999 with a simple standard: teach players how to understand the game, build real skills and keep progressing. More than 25 years later, that development philosophy remains at the center of US Hoops — an environment that has been part of the path for players who went on to compete at the high school, NCAA and NBA levels, including alumnus Luol Deng.
Tom Flaherty
Co-Founder & Head Coach
- Co-founded US Hoops in 1999
- 25+ years developing NJ players
Tom has helped shape the US Hoops training environment since its beginning in 1999, developing players through consistent instruction, repetition and an understanding of how the game should be played. That long-term consistency includes alumni like 3x All-Big Ten scorer Katelynn Flaherty.
- Point guard, Rider University (2006–2010)
- Professional player, Puerto Rico (2011–2014)
Amanda brings both basketball experience and a performance-focused perspective to player development. Her background as a collegiate point guard at Rider University and a professional player in Puerto Rico informs how she helps athletes develop confidence, focus and stronger habits alongside basketball skill — a perspective she has sharpened through Human Potential Coach and Psychological Fitness Specialist training since 2019.
- All-Middlesex County, South Plainfield HS
- County champion, Middlesex County College
Mai combines competitive playing experience — from All-Middlesex County honors at South Plainfield High School to a county championship at Middlesex County College — with years of coaching across US Hoops programs. Her approach centers on instruction, accountability and preparing players to make better decisions when the game speeds up.
- Montclair State University (2005–2007)
- Harlem Globetrotters (2010–2014)
Roman brings a unique combination of collegiate basketball at Montclair State, professional performance experience touring with the Harlem Globetrotters from 2010–2014, and years coaching inside US Hoops since 2006. His perspective helps players develop skill, confidence and comfort performing in competitive environments.
The US Hoops Standard
COACHING SHOULD TEACH.
Players need more than instructions. They need coaches who can explain the game, correct mistakes, demand better habits and help athletes understand how their skills translate when competition gets faster.
Teach
Players should understand why something works.
Correct
Repetition matters most when the repetitions are right.
Challenge
Development requires players to work outside their comfort zone.
Prepare
Training should help skills hold up when the game speeds up.
The right program matters. The people teaching it matter just as much.
COACHING THAT MOVES PLAYERS FORWARD.
Give your player an environment built around instruction, repetition, accountability and real development.