Le Moyne College head men’s basketball coach Nate Champion ’14 announced on Thursday afternoon the hiring of Jermelle Fraser as an assistant coach.
“Having Jermelle join our staff has so many advantages,” said Champion, who is entering his third season leading his alma mater. “The ability to grow our staff is always a positive, but to add an experienced coach of his caliber is one that doesn’t happen all the time. He has experience playing at the professional level as well as coaching both internationally and at the highest high school level as well. He is very strong in player development and has some strong recruiting ties as well. We are extremely excited to have him here with us!”
“I am extremely blessed and grateful for the opportunity to join the Le Moyne College community,” said Fraser. “Le Moyne has such a rich history of excellence in all of its athletic and academic programs. This is a place where Jesuit values are instilled and I’ll be able to coach in one of the toughest leagues in Division II, the NE10. I can’t thank Head Coach Nathan Champion and Director of Athletics Bob Beretta enough for believing in my abilities to add value to the men’s basketball program, which already upholds a winning tradition. Go Dolphins!”
Fraser comes to the Heights after serving as a player development coach for the Speedy Basketball Academy, which he founded in 2011 in New York City.
He has coached and played in several countries internationally. Most recently, he served as a head coach at the NBA Basketball School in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 2020. He helped develop grassroots and high school boys basketball players and ensured high-quality programming and training. Additionally, he evaluated players’ skill level at the end of each term.
He spent the 2019-20 academic year as an assistant coach and player development coach at Montverde Academy in Monteverde, Florida. He coached four NBA first round draft picks, including 2021 first overall pick Cade Cunningham. He assisted with daily coaching and practice sessions for a team which featured eight high-major Division I prospects. He also provided video breakdown of practice and games for analysis.
In 2019, he served as a coach at the Zaza Pachulia Basketball Academy in Tblisi, Georgia. He was an academy coach for the U18 and U20 teams with both teams winning the Georgian Championships. He also worked in player development with U16, U18 and U20 national team players along with Sandro Mamukelashvili, who was selected in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft.
In 2018, he was a skills coach at the Hoop Group Skills Camp in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Working with Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley and eight-time National High School Coach of the Year Kevin Boyle, he assisted with in-game coaching and skill development. He also spent time at the NBA Basketball School in Kartepe, Turkey as a skills coach.
From 2011 to 2017, he worked with Big Apple Sports under longtime New York City coach and scout Thomas “Tippy” McTernan. He oversaw the player development program, helped coordinate the annual college exposure event and scouted and evaluated talent. Over 300 players from his time with the organization went on to play at the collegiate level.
He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at SUNY Maritime during the 2010-11 academic year. He assisted with skill development, scouting reports and game day preparation and video.
He started his professional playing career with KB Drita in Gjilan, Kosovo in 2013-14. He averaged 18.7 points and 4.5 assists per game. While with the team, he worked with youth players in the program. He then played for BK Flames NH Ostrava in Ostrava, Czech Republic in 2015-16. He played point guard and also was a volunteer youth trainer. He wrapped up his playing career with Malbas in Malmo, Sweden in 2017-18. He ranked in the top 10 in assists in the Superettan League. As the head coach of the U16 and U19 teams, he led the teams to the 2017 Skanes District Championship and the 2018 Lundaspelen semifinals.
Fraser attended SUNY Maritime College, where he was a 2011 graduate and received a Bachelor’s degree in International Trade and Transportation. On the court, Fraser led a remarkable resurgence at SUNY Maritime. In just three seasons, the Privateers more than doubled the win total in the five years combined before his arrival. The program averaged 15.7 wins per season, appeared in three consecutive Skyline Conference tournament semifinals and the ECAC Post Season Tournament in 2008-09 for the second time in college history. Additionally, the stretch is one of the most successful by winning percentage in school history.
Story courtesy: Craig Lane, Assistant Athletics Director for Athletic Communications
