Introducing the SaWUSA 2018 Rosters

SAW STAFF + TRIP LEADER – Jody Burrows (Tracy, CA) Jody is the Director of Client Relations at STUDENTathleteWorld Tours. She serves as the first point of contact with our athletes and families and helps them through the application process. Burrows came to SaW after coaching Women’s College Basketball at Navy (MD), Case Western Reserve University (OH), Oberlin College (OH), and Northeastern University (MA). She also was a standout athlete at Northeastern. Burrows resides in Tracy, California and is a native of Corry, Pennsylvania.

GROUP LEADER – Ruben Leyva (Fort Stockton, TX) is a lifelong coach and teacher who has taken great pride in making an impact in his hometown community. He’s established himself as a coach that demands discipline, hard work, respect, high integrity, and great character in their sport. In addition to coaching basketball, he has coached Volleyball, Track & Field, and Football for the better part of the last two decades. As the jack of all trades, Coach Leyva has served as a Physical Education teacher and a personal trainer as well. He has nearly ten certifications in a variety of areas pertaining to coaching/training. Coach Leyva graduated from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin with a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology.

U19 Boy’s Basketball – Tyler Sanborn (Ferrum, VA) Tyler Sanborn is the Ferrum College Head Men’s Basketball Coach. Sanborn came to Ferrum from Hampden-Sydney College, where he spent five years as Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach. Sanborn was promoted to Recruiting Coordinator after one year with the Tiger basketball coaching staff. His other duties included on-court instruction, skill and practice development, fundraising, travel, scheduling, budgeting, summer camps and social media. Sanborn is also founder and director of Bigs on the Hill Basketball Camps, designed for the development of post players. He began the camp in January 2014 and covers all facets of the program. Sanborn played basketball at Guilford College. During his four-year career, the Quakers posted a 104-19 record and made back-to-back Final Four appearances at the NCAA Div. III Men’s Basketball Championships in 2009 and 2010. Sanborn is one of six Guilford players to total 1,000 career points (1,398) and rebounds (1,133), and also had 200 career blocked shots. Individually, Sanborn was a two-time All-American, two-time South Region Player of the Year and the 2010 NABC National Player of the Year. He earned the Nuereus C. English Athletic Leadership Award in recognition of outstanding athletic achievement and leadership at Guilford. Sanborn participated in multiple NBA training camps, and in the summer of 2010 played in the NBA Summer League with the Los Angeles Lakers. He played professionally in Spain and France for two seasons.

U19 Boy’s Basketball – Tahj Scott (Lauringburg, VA) Tahj Scott is the Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Andrews University. Scott, a Hampton, Virginia product, graduated from Kecoughtan High School (Va.) in 2012. Scott played all 4 years of high school basketball (Hampton High 2008-2010, Kecoughtan High School 2010-2012). Starting a few games his sophomore season, he later became a regular starter for his junior and senior seasons. He was also named team captain his senior year and voted to the Virginia High School League Honorable Mention Team in 2012. Scott played 1 year at Patrick Henry Community College from 2012-2013 where he made the Dean’s list. He spent 1 year at Norfolk State University as a regular student from 2013-2014 before coming to St. Andrews in the fall of 2014 to study Psychology and play for the Knights. Scott played 2 seasons for the Knights from 2014-2016 while making the Dean’s list his first year. He was also named as an NAIA Academic All-Conference member his junior year and named team Captain for both his junior and senior seasons at SAU. This past summer (2017), Scott worked as an assistant coach for team Denmark at the Global Squad Camp, ran by John Alexander and worked as a Basket Instructor for Point Guard College (PGC) in Springfield, Mass.

U16 Boy’s Basketball – Rory Larson (Minnesota) Rory returns to SaWUSA after leading a team at the United World Games in 20165. Rory spent 10 seasons coaching Men’s Basketball at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. Prior to arriving at Anoka-Ramsey, Rory spent one season as the Assistant Coach at the University of Minnesota-Morris (UMM), two seasons as a Graduate Assistant at Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU), and one season as a Graduate Manager at North Dakota State University (NDSU). In 13 seasons of coaching, Rory has been a part of only two sub-.500 teams (228-155 overall record) while learning from some of the Midwest’s best coaches in Tim Miles (current University of Nebraska head coach), Greg Stemen, Paul Grove (UMM), and Ron Larson. Rory earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and Justice Administration in 2004 from SMSU and his Master of Science degree in Education: Sports Leadership in 2007 from SMSU. Rory was a member of SMSU’s first NSIC Championship Men’s Basketball team in 2001. That team also won the school’s first North Central Region title and participated in the NCAA Elite Eight. A captain during his senior season (2003-2004), Rory finished his playing career ranked sixth in 3-point field goals made and sixth in 3-point field goals attempted in SMSU history. Rory and his wife Ericka reside in Maple Grove. They have two children, Drew and Jack.

U14 Boys Basketball Coach – Jeremy Otkin (Pipestone, MN) – Jeremy Otkin returns for his fourth summer with SaWUSA. He was named SaW’s 2017 Coach of the Year leading the SaWUSA U14 Team to the Gold Medal at the Euro BB Cup. Jeremy is currently coaching in the West Central School District in South Dakota. Previously, Coach Otkin spent time on coaching staffs at both the high school and college levels. At Sandhills Community College (NC), he served two years as both the Assistant Coach as well as the Strength & Conditioning Coach. Shortly after his time on staff, the men’s basketball program went on to win the NJCAA Division III National Championship. While in the high school coaching ranks, Coach Otkin was on staff at his alma mater where he helped lead his team to a South Dakota State Consolation Championship. He has balanced coaching with his military career (2003-2005 National Guard, 2005-2010 Active Duty in the Army, and 2010-present in the Army Reserves). Coach Otkin played College Baseball at Dakota State University (SD) and spends time in the summer working Duke Basketball Camp. He has two Bachelor’s Degrees (Education and Management) and is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Education Administration.

U19 Girl’s Basketball – Kelsey Long (Laurinburg, NC) Kelsey Long returns for her second summer with SaWUSA. She is the Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at St. Andrews University. Long comes to the Knights from Queens University in Charlotte where she was an assistant the past two seasons. Long obtained her Master’s degree from Queens last year in the field of Communication. As a collegiate player, Long was a scholarship standout at Belmont Abbey College (NC). Long was a four-year starter during her collegiate career at Belmont Abbey. During her last season, Belmont Abbey’s team finished first in Conference Carolina and advanced to the second round of regional play. During her time as a collegiate student-athlete, Long was recognized as a Conference Carolinas Basketball Academic All-Conference Team, listed on the Presidential Athletic Honor Roll, made the Dean’s List, and was introduced into the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society May of 2015. Long is from Pilot Mountain, North Carolina where she attended and played basketball for East Surry High School.

U16 Girl’s Basketball – Bridgette King (Texas) Bridgette is the owner and head coach of the Lady Panthers Basketball Association. She is a Co-Founder/Executive Director of the Southwest Youth Sports Commission (SYSC) and Board Member at Full Court Advantage/She’s Up Showcase. She has coaching certifications and licenses with USA Basketball Youth Development Coaches License, NCAA Coaches and Operators, National Federation of High School Coaches Association (NFHS), National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), AAU/Positive Coaches Alliance – Levels I, II and III, Certified Interscholastic Coach (CIC) – Level II, Accredited Interscholastic Coach (AIC) – Level I, National Alliance for Youth Sports – Basketball (NAYS), and National Alliance for Youth Sports Select (NAYS SELECT)

U17 Girl’s Volleyball – Janet Tyler (Broken Arrow, OK) Janet returns for her second summer with SaWUSA. She is the Co-Founder and Director of the Broken Arrow Volleyball Club, an extremely popular organization in Oklahoma with over 35 coaches throughout all age divisions. She has coached competitive club teams for several years and is a member of the National Association of Youth Sports as well as a Certified Youth Sports Administrator. As an athlete herself, Coach Tyler competed on a trip to Belgium and is excited to share a similar experience with a group of today’s athletes. She balances her coaching duties with her career as an Accountant and received her Bachelor’s Degree from Ashworth University in Human Resource Management.

U17 Girl’s Volleyball Assistant Coach – Megan Brands (Tulsa, OK) Megan returns for her second summer with SaWUSA. She is currently a Head Coach and Board Member of the Broken Arrow Volleyball Club, an extremely popular organization in Oklahoma with over 35 coaches throughout all age divisions. After a successful playing career at Ozark Christian College where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Bible Knowledge, she’s made a name for herself as a Volleyball Official (Referee) & Scorekeeper. For over a decade, Coach Brands has officiated at the club, high school, JUCO, NAIA, NCCAA, and NCAA levels around the country. A couple of her career highlights are being nominated to be the scorekeeper for the 2014 NCAA Division I National Championship as well as being the scorekeeper for the 2014 High School Volleyball All-American Game. Her aspirations are to officiate in a future Olympics.

U13 Girl’s Volleyball – Coach Ross Tyler (Broken Arrow, OK) Ross returns for his second summer with SaWUSA. He is the Co-Founder of the Broken Arrow Volleyball Club, an extremely popular organization in Oklahoma with over 35 coaches throughout all age divisions. For several years, he has coached young players and spends much of his time focusing on his competitive U13 team. He balances his coaching duties with his career working for the Department of Defense in Quality Control and as a Contract Specialist. He has a certified education in the Art of Coaching Volleyball and an Associate’s Degree in Quality Control from the Spartan School of Aeronautics.

U18 Boy’s Basketball Coach – Jayson Williams (North Carolina) Jayson is the head Women’s Basketball Coach at Belmont-Abbey College. In his first year on the Crusaders sideline he was named the Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year, becoming the program’s first conference Coach of the Year since the 1991 season. No stranger to Belmont Abbey College, Williams served on the Crusaders men’s staff for eight years before departing for an assistant women’s coaching position at Jacksonville State University for the 2012-13 season. A 2004 graduate of Greensboro College, Williams was co-captain of the men’s basketball team. He was a stellar performer in the classroom as well by being named to the Dean’s List at Greensboro College and at Cuesta College. He is received his masters in counseling and development from Winthrop University in 2009, where he was a member of the Chi-Chi Sigma Iota Honor Society in 2008 and 2009. Since 2008, he has been involved on community counseling services in Charlotte while serving internships at the Morgan School and a skills trainer and community support worker with the Alexander Youth Network in 2009.

Trip Leader and U18 Boy’s Basketball Coach – Tim Ryerson (Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina) Tim founded STUDENTathleteWorld in 2009 after coaching Men’s Basketball at five different NCAA schools in four States over eight years; Hardin-Simmons University (TX), University of Wisconsin-River Falls (WI), Methodist University (NC), St. Andrews University (NC) and Wayne State College (NE). He also spent time as a high school coach in basketball, baseball, softball, and football. He has a M.Ed in Sports Management from Hardin-Simmons University (TX). He is married to Erika with two kids; Harper and Hayes.

Trip leader and Softball Coach – Sara Harman (Texas) – Sara is the Head Women’s Softball coach at Southwestern Assemblies of God University. She formerly coached at Marion Military Institute, the University of Dayton, West Texas A&M, Norfolk State University, and Ball State University. As a player, at Defiance College, Harman earned Heartland Collegiate Conference All-Conference first team honors three years as a pitcher for Defiance College. She holds school records for innings pitched (665.1) and games started (103). She is second all-time in strikeouts (381) and third in school history in complete games (72), wins (39) and shutouts (8). Harman also holds the second, seventh and eighth-highest single-season strikeout totals in the program’s history. She was named the team MVP her junior and senior seasons, and was named the Defiance Purple and Gold Sportsmanship Female Athlete of the Year in 2003. Harman, who also played volleyball at Defiance, earned her bachelor’s degree in sports management with a minor in recreation in 2003. In October of 2013, she was inducted into the Defiance Hall of Fame for both sports. She was inducted into Port Clinton High School’s Hall of Fame on May 8, 2010. Besides Harman’s coaching experience, she has been an active member in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, having graduated (2008) from the NCAA Women’s Coaches Academy. In 2008, Harman was a member of the games committee of the NCAA Division II Softball World Series and acted as a game liaison for the Mid-Atlantic region representative.

Women’s Basketball Coach – Jody Burrows (Tracy, CA)Jody is the Director of Client Relations at STUDENTathleteWorld Tours. She serves as the first point of contact with our athletes and families and helps them through the application process. Burrows came to SaW after coaching Women’s College Basketball at Navy (MD), Case Western Reserve University (OH), Oberlin College (OH), and Northeastern University (MA). She also was a standout athlete at Northeastern. Burrows resides in Tracy, California and is a native of Corry, Pennsylvania.

Trip Leader and Men’s Basketball Coach YOUNG, Tim Ryerson (Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina) Tim founded STUDENTathleteWorld in 2009 after coaching Men’s Basketball at five different NCAA schools in four States over eight years; Hardin-Simmons University (TX), University of Wisconsin-River Falls (WI), Methodist University (NC), St. Andrews University (NC) and Wayne State College (NE). He also spent time as a high school coach in basketball, baseball, softball, and football. He has a M.Ed in Sports Management from Hardin-Simmons University (TX). He is married to Erika with two kids; Harper and Hayes.

Men’s Basketball Coach OLD, Bob Hutchings (Bridgeton, NJ) – Coach Bob Hutchings returns for his fourth season with SaWUSA. He was named SaWUSA Coach of the Year in 2016, leading his team to the Silver Medal in the United World Games. “Hutch” has been coaching basketball for over 40 years and is one of the most well respected coaches in the Northeast. Currently, he is on staff at Stockton University, where he has been a part of multiple conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. Previously, Coach Hutchings served as an Assistant Coach for Mike Krzyzewski (Army), Assistant Coach for the Saudi Arabian National Team, Head Coach of Cumberland County College, and Head Coach of Bridgeton High School (NJ). For his incredible accomplishments throughout the years, he has been inducted into The New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the Millville Thunderbolts Hall of Fame, the Wheeling Jesuit Athletic Hall of Fame, and the All Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey Hall of Fame. He is an Associate Emeritus Member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration as well as a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling Education.