Coaches of the Year

Led her team to a 22 - 3 season.

 

Here's what her colleagues had to say, "No one gets more out of their roster than Jamie B."

Led his team to their second straight NEPSAC Class A Championship. 

Founders League Champions

 

Here's what his colleagues had to say,

"Adrian Stewart consistently puts together a stellar team." 

"Adrian is always willing to serve and volunteer on whichever committee our Coaches Association forms. He tirelessly works for the benefit of our student-athletes.  He is an incredible coach. He quietly, methodically constructs a game plan to dismantle the opponent and inspires his team to execute that plan nearly to perfection"

In his sixth season at the helm of the St. Luke's Storm program, Coach W led his team to their first NEPSAC Class B title finishing with a 26 - 2 record including his sixth straight FAA championship. In addition to heading the basketball program, he is Director of Athletics and teaches journalism at St. Luke's. Here is what his captains had to say about him:

 

“Coach Ward has guided us this season in every way imaginable. He has taught us how to win, how to lose, and how to achieve our goals. He pushes us in practice to be our best selves, which translates to games and also off the court. This award is well deserved and we congratulate Coach Ward on all of his successes thus far. On behalf of the entire St.Luke’s community, we thank him for the lasting impact he will have on our lives and wish him the best in his future endeavors! ”

A former Division 1 basketball player and graduate of Sacred Heart University, Coach Brian Johnson played professional basketball in Germany and Puerto Rico. After several years as a skill development trainer and AAU coach, Coach Johnson was selected to lead the Hamden Hall Girls Varsity Basketball Program in 2019. Since then, he has guided the Hamden Hall Varsity team for four seasons, each year reaching a higher level of success. After making the FAA and NEPSAC Class C finals in 2022, the team reached both the FAA finals and won the 2023 NEPSAC Class C Championship.

 

Coach Johnson devotes considerable time and effort to the CT girls basketball community, helping players both within and outside of the Hamden Hall program through player development and exposure as the co-founder of CT20. Coach Johnson appreciates the life-changing opportunity for student-athletes to continue their sports in college, and it brings him tremendous joy that several alumni and all four graduating seniors from the Hamden Hall Varsity team will continue to play at the collegiate level.

 

Here is what some of his student-athletes had to say:

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“Coach Johnson is a very dedicated coach and he has transformed the girls basketball program at Hamden Hall. He always works hard for his players, both on and off the court to help them get better and to be successful. We are very excited that his efforts are recognized with the selection of Coach Johnson as the 2023 NEPSAC Class C Coach of the Year!” ~ Emma Olaussonn '25

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"I would describe Coach Johnson as a passionate coach with a great love for the game. He constantly takes time out before and after the season and practices to do individual workouts and has played a key part in sending all 4 seniors off to play collegiate basketball next year. He is always looking out for the team and makes it a strong point to always be together as one and come together and rely on each other when ever we need help. I think that’s why we all have such great chemistry because he creates that environment for us. He has helped build this program into a championship program once again and is continuing to elevate and help progress the game of women’s basketball. Not only in CT but also now expanding to other states as well. Congrats to Coach Johnson he definitely deserves this award for all the time and effort and energy he has put into our team and the game of women’s basketball."  -Jayda Johnson '23 BC Commit

Kristalyn Baisden joined the Watkinson community in 2021 as the Associate Athletic Director and Head Coach of Girls' Varsity Basketball. Prior to arriving at Watkinson, Coach Baisden completed a stellar four year career playing Division 1 Basketball and earning a bachelor's degree in Psychology at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia. In her senior season, she was named the team's defensive player of the year. Following her graduation from Saint Joseph's University, Coach Baisden enrolled at Eastern University (PA) where she earned her MBA and served as an Assistant Coach on the Women's basketball team for two seasons.

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In just two seasons at Watkinson, Coach Baisden has created a great team culture which has played a big part in the team's success the past two seasons. She has led the team to two winning seasons, finishing as HVAL league champions and New England semi-finalists during the 2021-2022 season and as NEPSAC Class D champions this season, with an overall record of 21-2. This is the program’s first NEPSAC championship in almost ten years. 

 

Her former high school coach, Wil Smith of Berkshire School who passed away in 2015, gave her a motto that sticks with her to this day. "Keep Working.”  By itself it seems simple, but is so powerful.  Coach Baisden strives to instill the motto in all of her players.