As the 2024-25 girls’ basketball season approaches, the team is looking to make it to the DCIAA and DCSAA playoffs and win it all this season. During the offseason, the program made some key changes, one of which was the acquisition of Varsity Head Coach Stephon Seraile, Director of Climate and Culture here at JR.
A native Washingtonian, Seraile is a former hooper (and football player) who was introduced to the game as a child at St. Jerome’s Academy. From there, he went on to play for DeMatha Catholic High School and Morehouse College.
Seraile got his start coaching basketball while being a middle school teacher. “One of the parents asked me if I wanted to coach AAU basketball. I had been coaching boys for a minute, but I decided to make the pivot and coach girls basketball,” Seraile said.
For about a year, Seraile put a pause on coaching after the birth of his daughter but became interested in getting back to it after watching the girls’ team play last season. “I was coaching at Good Counsel High School for two seasons and as well as college basketball before I came here,” he said. “After seeing the girls play and wanting to get back into coaching, it was brought to my attention that there would be a potential opening for next season. I said that I would definitely take a look at it and eventually I accepted the job.”
Seraile was one addition to a revamped coaching staff. Additionally, four-year JR basketball coach and ninth grade lead dean Aireon Boone was named assistant coach, along with Kelly Oeltjenbruns, Lawrence Leonard, and Dave Mason. The Tigers begin their season on December 2 against Bishop O’Connell.
In terms of preparation for the season, Seraile noted the team has been conditioning and doing skills work to get in shape and continue to hone their game. “The focus has been on getting stronger, faster, and better, working hard, that’s the biggest thing.”
This season, Seraile hopes that the Tigers will work hard, play hard, and ultimately give their all every time they step on the court, regardless of whether it’s at practice or in a game. “That’s my main expectation, I want them to have fun with the game of basketball, create lifelong bonds with one another, and fall in love with the process of getting better every single day,” he said. “If they do that, everything else will fall into place.”
That starts with a strong culture Seraile and his fellow coaches have implemented. “The girls should know that they are all respected members of the school community and they should value the experience of being student-athletes while carrying themselves with class.”
Seraile believes that young hoopers hoping to play at the next level need to be comfortable with failure. “Everything isn’t always going to come easy, you can’t just expect quick results with this game because it’s not gonna happen,” he said. “The important thing is that you use that failure to continue to drive yourself forward.” Seraile often advises his athletes to ask themselves these questions: “What are you doing to get better? Are you using your time productively or are you simply wasting it?” •
