The WBBL coaches and instructors are here to provide you and your family with the best youth basketball experience possible! We go above and beyond to make all players and their families feel welcome, informed, and a part of the WBBL organization. We are proud to bring you a group of highly accomplished coaches, motivational leaders, and exceptional administrators. 

Read the bios below to learn more about our incredible WBBL staff

Commissioner of West Bearden Basketball League

Phone: 865.258.3786
Email: [email protected]

Robert is a lifelong player and teacher in the West Knoxville basketball community. With over 40 years of attending and coordinating camps and clinics across the USA he is one of the most influential basketball mentors around Knoxville and surrounding areas. Robert is constantly expanding his basketball knowledge to better equip his coaches and athletes. He works closely with organizations such as Point Guard College (PGC) and trainers such as Gilbert Abraham. Robert's dedication to studying the game of basketball allows for the WBBL to bring the most modern skills and training methods to Knoxville.

This lead admin, instructor, and highly successful coach began as a 3 year varsity basketball player at Fulton High School. Appointed as the team captain her senior year, Jen led the Falcons to the programs furthest point in post season games than any Fulton Girls team in history to that point. After graduating she took on the role as a Volunteer Assistant for 2 years at Fulton High School.

Jennifer Hayes has and continues to play an important role to the success of the WBBL. Jen now oversees and assists with the Offseason Development classes, Preseason Instruction classes, and is a head coach during the WBBL Rec League Season. She has an outstanding ability to work with children of all age groups and has been one of our most successful coaches in the WBBL and City Tournament.

Jennifer is also highly involved in Special Olympics of Greater Knoxville she is on the organizations board and helps run 9 local sporting events annually. As a coach she has also won 2 TSSAA Unified Track and Field State Titles. 

Lead Development Instructor & Coach

David Sanger is a Knoxville native who played high school basketball at the Webb School of Knoxville from 8th grade to Senior year. During his time at Webb, Sanger achieved All-District, All-Region, and All-State Tournament Team. He also scored 1200 career points during his basketball career.

David is currently a student at the University of Tennessee.

Sanger joined the WBBL in 2022. His basketball knowledge, enthusiasm for the game, and ability to work with players of all skill levels quickly led him to be on of our lead development instructors for our Offseason and Preseason Development classes.  Additionally, David oversees the WBBL Spring, Summer, and Fall Game Nights as a coach and WBBL Camps throughout the summer as a lead instructor.

This past 2022/23 WBBL Rec League season Coach Sanger served as head coach for 3 WBBL Rec League Teams.

Head Coach & Communications/Marketing Executive

Mize was a 3-year starter, 3-time conference and regional champ, and all-region player at Crystal Lake South High School (Illinois). Her high school team continues to hold the record for most wins by a team in a single season.

Out of high school she committed to playing basketball at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. During her time as a 3-year starter, her team won 4 conference championships, which advanced them to 4 NAIA National Tournaments. During her collegiate career Mize and her team made it to the Elite 8 at the NAIA National Tournament for the first time in school history, and were awarded with the all-time win record in school history that same year which they still hold. Individually, Mize received awards for Most Improved Player, Honorary MVP, Champion of Character Award at the NAIA National Tournament, and All-Conference Academic.

Mize joined the WBBL coaching staff in September 2014. Since joining the WBBL she been the lead instructor for the Offseason Development and Preseason Development classes, she was a founding coach for the TN Volcanoes  and Lady Volcanoes AAU programs. She has helped coach several West Valley Middle School teams during their Fall leagues and for developmental purposes. Mize serves as a head coach for both boys and girls teams in the WBBL Rec League.

Currently she is the Head Coach for the TN Lady Volcanoes 2030 team which she has overseen since 2021. 

Head Coach 

Cameron Ward has 5 years of basketball coaching experience. He has coaching experience at the elementary and middle school level. Ward is entering his third season with the WBBL and as a TN Volcanoes Head Coach. Ward is entering his first season as the TN Volcanoes Boys Basketball Program Director of Player Personnel. 

Ward served one year as the Assistant Boy's Basketball Coach at Halls Middle School. He currently serves as the Head Boy's Basketball Coach at Whittle Springs Middle School. 

 

Development and Camp Instructor  

Chase Ridenour played 4 years of Varsity basketball at Webb High School from 2015-2018. He went on to then play 2 years of basketball  at Tennessee Tech University from 2018-2020. Following the 2020 season Ridenour transferred to Maryville College where he is not currently finishing up his collegiate basketball career and education. 

Chase joined the WBBL in 2022. He is on staff as one of our lead camp instructors and development instructors. 

 

Private Trainer

Gee attended high school at Cornerstone Christian Academy where he was named to the first team All-State and All-District, NCSAA and Regional Player of the Year. Gee averaged 17.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 3.3 steals per game as a senior. He set high school records for points, assists, and the most winningest player in Cornerstone Christian History.

After graduating Gee attended Longwood University where he was apart of the men's D1 basketball team from 2014-2018. His 2015-2016 season Gee was one of only four players on the team to appear in every single game. Throughout his college career Gee was averaging career highs in minutes, shooting percentage, rebounds, assists, steals and points per game. 

Following college, Gee went on to play in the Dominican Republic for a short period of time. He is now the owner of several companies and soon be franchise owner of a restaurant here in Knoxville.

Gee was the head basketball coach for Holston Middle School's boys team for the 2020-2021 where he led the team to a championship.

Bryan joined the WBBL staff in the 2019 Preseason.

Development Instructor

Owner of Akin Athetics, Skill Trainer to NBA Players and Elite Youth Players
Consultant to WBBL Basketball Development and Guest Instructor

Gilbert Abraham is a professional basketball trainer who founded Akin Athletics, a basketball-specific skill development organization. He is currently the assistant coach for the Austin Spurs (G League).

He has been preparing players at an elite level for more than 10 years and has trained over 50 NBA players and professional athletes. His clients including but not limited to: Raymond Felton (LA Clippers), Marvin Williams (Charlotte Hornets), Kendall Marchall (Milwaukee Bucks), Justin Jackson (UNC), Sash Kailleya-Jones (UK), as well as many elite high school and college athletes that are on their way to the NBA. 

Gilbert collaborate often and share successful teaching strategies and techniques with Robert and the WBBL coaching staff to help advance WBBL basketball programs.