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Name: Jose Flores
Job Title: Basketball Coach
Asphalt Green Department: Sports
Asphalt Green Campus: Battery Park City
Q: How long have you been working at Asphalt Green?
A: One month.
Q: What does your job entail?
A: I teach and coach basketball classes for children. I’m responsible for creating a safe environment and teaching the fundamentals of basketball to kids.
Q: What classes do you teach?
A: I teach Pee Wee Basketball Academy (5-6 years old), Middies Basketball Academy (7-9 years old), Sharp Shooters Basketball Academy (9-13 years old) and Youth Basketball League (7-9 years old).
Q: How did you get into the sports industry?
A: Basketball has always been a part of my life. It kept me out of trouble. Basketball put me in a zone where I blocked everything else in my life out. I started playing basketball in the sixth grade. I played basketball in junior high school and then I played varsity for four years in high school. I played one year of college basketball at Buffalo State College. I also worked as a scout player and trainer for the Buffalo State College women’s team, and then was the Junior Varsity Basketball Coach at the Anderson School. I'm a basic fundamental player and I teach that because a lot of children lack fundamentals now-a-days.
Q: What is your favorite sport to watch?
A: College basketball during March Madness!
Q: Who is your favorite sports team?
A: The Knicks—growing up they were the first team I ever saw in live play.
Q: What is one of your fondest memories of working at Asphalt Green?
A: One of my fondest memories would be working with the 3 to 4 years old basketball class. They have so much energy. I feel like a kid again playing “Cookie Monster” with them. Cookie Monster is a warmup game where the class lines up on the baseline and all the kids scream, “Cookie monster, cookie monster, are you hungry?” If I say yes, the kids have to run to the opposite side of the court without being tagged. If they’re tagged they need to do 10 jumping jacks. Or if I say no, then they do 10 jumping jacks in place on the baseline. It’s a game that gets the younger kids moving and running around having fun.
Q: Can you share a fun fact about yourself?
A: I’m double jointed.