Phil Kurajian is in his first season as an assistant coach with the men’s basketball team. He will do it all for the Bloodhounds. His duties include recruiting nationally, on campus visits, scouting opponents, on court instruction and film editing. Kurajian will also be heavily involved with player development, as well as day to day operations. He will be an integral part of the Bloodhounds staff this season.
Kurajian comes to John Jay after coaching stints at Shrine Catholic High School and Brother Rice High School in Royal Oak and Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, respectively. He was also a veteran member of the University of Michigan Basketball Camp staff, directing the top division of the high school Player Development Camp this past summer. Prior to his high school coaching, Kurajian was a scholarship guard at Concordia University Ann Arbor, until a career ending injury led him to becoming a JV Head Assistant and Student Assistant Coach for the Varsity.
Phillip Charles Kurajian was born in Pontiac, Michigan, and now currently resides in Manhattan, New York.
Vaughn Mason is in his first season as an assistant coach with the men’s basketball team. He will have a key role for the John Jay staff, including on and off campus recruiting, in New York City and nationally. He will also be involved in scouting opponents, as well as player development, specifically with the forwards. In addition to these responsibilities, Mason will help the program connect with the John Jay Alumni.
Mason returns to John Jay after a legendary playing career in the 2006-2010 seasons, including his vital contributions as a member of the 2008-2009 team, leading the Bloodhounds to their first CUNY conference title and NCAA tournament berth. Ranked as the 5th leading scorer in school history and 22nd in CUNY conference history, he is known as one of the most decorated and respected John Jay athletes of all-time. Mason was a three time All-Conference player, while being named the Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2009, as well as being presented with the Sportsmanship Award following the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 seasons.
Mason graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Minor in Anthropology from John Jay in 2010, and is now in pursuit of his Master’s in Human Resource Management at Fordham University.
Mason was born in the South Bronx and now resides in the North Bronx, New York.
Marlon McRae is in his first season as an assistant coach for the men’s basketball team. He is a tremendous asset to the Bloodhound staff, bringing with him a firm knowledge and experience of New York City Basketball. His duties will include game planning and scouting opponents, as well as recruiting in the New York City area.
McRae comes to John Jay with extensive coaching experience at several different levels. He most recently served as an assistant coach at NCAA Division II Dowling College, under ECC Coach of the
Year, Stephen Hayn. A key member of the staff, McRae helped lead Dowling to their first 20 win season since 1998 and to the East Coast Conference championship game. Prior to Dowling, McRae was head coach at The Pratt Institute (NCAA Division III) during the 2008-2012 seasons. A well-known name in the New York City High School circuit, he held coaching positions as an assistant at Benjamin Banneker Academy in the 2007-2008 season and as head coach of Brooklyn Collegiate in 2006-2007 season.
McRae received his Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Long Island University-Brooklyn, and completed his Master’s in Teaching at Pace University. Before coaching in the PSAL, McRae held positions writing for the ESPN wire service, CBSsportsline.com and the New York Amsterdam News.
McRae was born in Brooklyn, New York where he currently still resides. Aside from coaching, McRae is a second grade teacher in the New York City Department of Education.
Wade Kornegay is in his first season as an assistant coach with the men’s basketball team. He will be a busy member of the Bloodhound staff, with duties including film exchange, recruiting locally, and assisting with the day to day operations. He will also help with player development, specifically with the guards.
Kornegay joins the staff with familiarity to the CUNY conference. After a stellar playing career at Monroe Community College in the 2007-2009 seasons, where he helped the team to a district and regional title, as well as a sixth place finish in the Division II NJCAA tournament, he then headed to Brooklyn College. A standout guard for the Bulldogs, Kornegay was an imperative part of the team that rallied their way to the CUNY Tournament Semi-Final game. He graduated from Brooklyn College in 2012 with a Bachelor’s in Exercise Science.
Kornegay was born in Norwich, New York and currently resides in Manhattan, New York.
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