Bryn Athyn College men’s basketball head coach Sean Westerlund completed his coaching staff with the addition of Dwayne Felder as the top assistant coach and Okoye Taylor ’20 and Kyle Bonner as volunteer assistant coaches.
“I could not be more excited about our staff this year,” said Westerlund. “As a first-year head coach, it was imperative for me to find coaches who fit the mission and vision of the college and the program we are trying to build. They all bring something unique to the table.”
Felder comes to Bryn Athyn after having success as a head coach at the high school level.
“Coach Felder is someone who a great teacher and communicator,” remarked Westerlund. “He has a history of skill development and has great familiarity with our league and region. He understands what it takes to win at a high level, and he has done so at every stop in his athletic journey.”
Last season, Felder was the head coach of the boys’ basketball program at Holston Middle School (HMS) in Knoxville, Tenn. In his lone season at HMS, Felder led the team to a four-win improvement over the 2018-19 season and had two players earn Tennessee Second School Athletic Association (TSSAA) All-Knox County recognition. The team was solid in the classroom, thanks to Felder leading team study halls, achieving a 3.5 team GPA.
Before he was at HMS, Felder was the 10th and 11th grade head coach of Team PASSION Elite AAU from 2017 to 2019. Felder was in charge of recruiting, player development, practice planning, and scouting. Felder coached 12 players that went on to earn TSSAA All-District honors and five that notched TSSAA All-Region recognition. Five of Felder’s players went on to play at the NCAA Division II or Division III level.
His coaching career began in 2014 as the head coach of the boys’ basketball team at Keswick Christian Academy in Saint Petersburg, Fla. The team posted a 5-5 record in the 2014-15 season, a two-win improvement from the previous year.
Felder is no stranger to the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) having played at Clarks Summit University from 2015 to 2017. He averaged 5.8 points in 36 games and was a team captain as a sophomore. For the final two years of his collegiate career, Felder played for Johnson University in Knoxville. In 2019, the Royals finished third in the National Christian College Athletic Association Division II National Tournament.
Felder earned a degree in sport/fitness leadership and physical education from Johnson University in May 2020.
A 2020 graduate of Bryn Athyn College with a degree in psychology, Taylor appeared in 83 games in four seasons for the Lions, averaging 5.7 points per game. He had a career-year as a senior, racking up 13.0 points per game, 51 rebounds, 40 assists, and 18 steals.
“Coach Taylor was a no brainer for us as a program. One of our core values is connection. Coach Taylor embodies that. He is a recent alumnus of our program and has a profound understanding of what it is like to be a Lion. He is well connected to our current roster and I look forward to watching him grow as a coach.”
Bonner returns to the Bryn Athyn bench for the second consecutive season. Prior to joining Bryn Athyn, Bonner was an assistant coach at CSAC rival Cairn University, his alma mater, for three years. Bonner made the CSAC All-Academic Team three times while at Cairn.
“Coach Bonner gives our staff continuity with the roster. Our returners spoke very highly of Coach Bonner and his ability to build meaningful relationships with each student-athlete. I am thrilled to have these men with us on this journey. I look forward to watching impact our program and community.”
Bryn Athyn College Men’s Basketball Staff Update
