Hometown:  Youngstown, Ohio

Website(s): www.vancouverbasketball.ca, www.westcoastclassic.ca, www.kayakforacure.org, www.motionball.com

Position:   Kits Junior Boys Head Coach, Second Year

Who is Mark Starkey?

After immigrating to Canada in 2006, Mark has led several basketball programs, launched high-profile tournaments and events and partnered with many of the local basketball organizations throughout Vancouver.  Mark founded premiere basketball organizations in Vancouver that include the annual West Coast Basketball Classic at the Olympic Oval (www.westcoastclassic.ca), the Vancouver Metro Basketball League (www.vancouverbasketball.ca) and the British Columbia Elite Club League for Youth Basketball Clubs throughout the Province.  In addition, one of Mark’s passions include the invitation-only ‘Breakfast Club’ he runs for NCAA, CIS and Professional Players in need of elite training in the off-season here in Vancouver.

Prior to moving to Vancouver, Mark played NCAA Division 1 Basketball in the Horizon League for Wright State University.   Mark played two years at NCAA II Top-25 Clarion University in Pennsylvania after a career at Boardman High School in Youngstown, Ohio as an All-State small forward alongside Ohio State and 2005 Big Ten Player of the Year Terence Dials.

Mark joins the NightHoops coaching staff with 10 years of coaching experience including summer stints at Nike Five-Star Basketball Camp in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, University of Maryland, Born2Run summer camps and high schools in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio and Vancouver.

In September of 2009, he attended the Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony that included NBA Greats John Stockton, David Robinson, Jerry Sloan, Vivian Stringer and Michael Jordan.

Mark is VP Business Development at local Interactive Agency, FCV and founder of Kayak for a Cure™ Society supporting cancer research and prevention.

Career goals

In basketball, my career goal is to leave a lasting impression on the excitement, organization and community involvement around the game of basketball specifically in Vancouver, and more broadly, Canada.

In community, the goal is to give back as much as possible through positive, high-output relationships in sport and in business.

Why you were interested in coaching with Nighthoops

It is beyond imperative that we instil confidence, leadership and quality of life/fun in the everyday lives of the next generation.  NightHoops provides an amazing infrastructure for coaches to do this.

Favorite thing about the program

Bridging the gap between kids who would not otherwise, or ordinarily, hang out, sit at the same lunch table at school or have access to an organized sport atmosphere if the NightHoops program didn’t exist in their community.

What you’ve learned about yourself since starting with Nighthoops

Like adults, the kids that take part in NightHoops program each hold a very personal and individual life story.   I’m running organized and respectful basketball practices because I believe sport positively compliments a child’s growth.  Nighthoops is far greater than the game.  Nighthoops opens up the opportunity for coaches to listen to that individual story, connect with the kids in the community and, in a very sincere way, listen and teach kids about the ‘game of life’ in addition to the game of basketball.  I’ve learned that creating a buttoned-up practice and game atmosphere opens up the opportunity to coach as well as positively affect those lives.  I place a high priority on respect above all else at our practices. That leads to all sorts of daily successes.