Co-Founders

Meet The Coaches

Almaden Valley Basketball is led by three local coaches who have spent years building youth basketball programs, mentoring players, and expanding opportunities for families in the Almaden community.

Leadership

Almaden Valley Basketball Co-Founders

Co-Founder

Coach Duy

Coach Duy brings more than a decade of youth basketball coaching and community leadership experience to Almaden Valley Basketball.

Duy served more than 10 years on the board of Almaden Youth Basketball, where he rebuilt and expanded the Rookie Program for players in kindergarten through 2nd grade. The program has grown into a highly successful part of AYB, giving young players an introduction to basketball focused on fundamentals, teamwork, and having fun while learning the game.

Throughout his time with AYB, Duy coached players from kindergarten through 8th grade, including competitive AAU teams.

A USA Basketball Gold Licensed Coach, Duy is passionate about teaching basketball fundamentals, developing confidence, and creating positive experiences that help young players build a lasting interest in the game.

Co-Founder

Coach James

Coach James brings more than a decade of youth basketball coaching and leadership experience to Almaden Valley Basketball. He has coached youth basketball since 2014 and currently serves as Head Coach of the Leigh High School Girls JV basketball team, after previously serving as Head Coach of the Branham High School Girls JV team.

James has coached boys and girls at the recreational, All-Star, and competitive AAU levels. He founded the Almaden Valley 3v3 Summer League and created a summer league for Varsity Girls and JV Boys, first hosted at Branham High School and moved to Leigh High School in 2026. He also launched a Varsity Girls Winter In-Season Tournament hosted at Leland High School.

James served more than 10 years on the board of Almaden Youth Basketball, including five years as President, helping expand basketball opportunities beyond the traditional winter season.

A USA Basketball Gold Licensed Coach and CPR/AED & First Aid certified, James emphasizes fundamentals, basketball IQ, teamwork, leadership, and giving players the confidence to take ownership of the game.

James was a collegiate athlete at MIT and holds an MBA from Santa Clara University.

Co-Founder

Coach Walter

Coach Walter brings more than 30 years of basketball playing and coaching experience to Almaden Valley Basketball. He has coached boys and girls at multiple levels, including seven years as a head coach for competitive All-Net and AAU teams, Head Coach of the Bret Harte Middle School Girls basketball team, and assistant coach for the Girls JV basketball programs at Branham and Leigh High Schools.

Walter served more than 3 years on the board of Almaden Youth Basketball, including multiple years as Gym Coordinator. He also founded Almaden Community Basketball, which has provided summer basketball camps for local youth for more than seven years.

A USA Basketball Gold Licensed Coach and CPR/AED & First Aid certified, Walter emphasizes fundamentals, teamwork, mental toughness, and mentorship. He encourages players to give back by helping younger athletes develop and passing along what they have learned.