Coach Paul: Alumni Game All About the Relationships

November is SJCS Varsity boys basketball coach Paul Assinesi's favorite month of the year.

"We start a new year, which always excites me," he said. "Thanksgiving and preseason tournaments are also in November."

But the biggest reason November is his favorite month is the annual Alumni Game, a gathering of many of the players he has coached at St. Joe's over the years.

"I love seeing all those players and how successful they've become," Coach Paul said.
 

This past week on the night before Thanksgiving, which is always the date of the annual reunion, 28 players -- as well as numerous family members, also always the case -- returned to see Coach Paul, see one another and run (or jog) up and down the court for a little while.

The Development Office, also happy to welcome back alumni and their families, provided snacks and SJCS swag. Katie Orbon, Director of Community and Alumni Relations, said the hope is to welcome back even more people next year.

Coach Paul is in his 16th season as the leader of the Knights, and among the former players on hand were four from his first team: Roger Clinkscales, Ian Okinaga, Michael Swoyer and Kelly Assinesi.

Kelly Assinesi is one of Paul's three sons, one of two he has coached at St. Joe's and one of two currently coaching at the school. Kelly ('11) is a Varsity assistant, and Landry ('14) is the Middle School head coach and a Varsity assistant.

But to Coach Paul, all of the players and all of the teams are special.

"My family knows better than anyone that it's the memories I've created with each team that will last us both a lifetime," he said. "I love the relationships."

2024 ALUMNI GAME

Kelly Assinesi, Landry Assinesi, Colin Burns, Josh Burns, Joseph Calhoun, Roger Clinkscales, Hunter Coleman, Brendan Dunlavey, Shane Dunlavey, Luke Erbrecht, Alex Gillespie, Jonathan Heijjer, Gene Langan, Alex Luzzatti, Matthew Marchal, Josh Masters, Miles Murray, Ian Okinaga, Walker Pace, Brogan Poole, Joseph Poole, Weeks Poole, Mateo Quinonez, Adam Rogers, Davis Satterfield, Ben Saunders, Michael Swoyer, Zach Zeidel.

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