GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY AT GOLDEN STATE
Coach Jeff gets USA Basketball Gold license, tours NBA Warriors’ training facility
Just three weeks after the Golden State Warriors reclaimed their throne as NBA champions, US-based Cebuano basketball skills trainer and coach Jefferson “Jeff” Codera had a golden chance of touring around the Oracle Performance Center, the practice facility and player campus of the Warriors located at the sprawling Chase Center in San Francisco, California.
Codera, nicknamed “Man of A Million Drills”, enjoyed such opportunity being a member of the Warriors’ training camp for several years now. For that, he also receives a championship ring every time the Golden State wins an NBA title.
“I had a wonderful experience at the Golden State Warriors’ training facility. It features fabrication technology and a full range of amenities, including a weight room, players’ dining area, rehab center, water therapy, and sauna therapy,” shared Codera, who has gone a long way from his humble beginnings as a jeepney dispatcher and pick-up player.
“You’ll be amazed at how well the Warriors’ players are taken care of by the best doctors in the nation, basketball skill instructors, physical therapists, dietitians, and coaches, in particular Steve Kerr and the coaching staff.”
“As a member of the NBA champions’ organization, it is an honor and a blessing to have this fantastic opportunity. I am grateful for it and I
am extremely proud to be a Filipino,” added the pride of Tabok, Mandaue City.
The 40-year-old Codera was doubly happy as his Gold Coach License from USA Basketball, the sport’s national governing body in the United States, has just
been renewed.
The USA Basketball Gold Coach License is a program that provides basketball education and training to coaches while ensuring the safety of young people in the sport. In addition, Gold Licensed coaches receive access to the USA Basketball Youth Development curriculum guidebook, premium online coaching content, tools and resources, as well as general liability insurance.
“It’s another milestone for me as a professional coach and skills trainer,” said Codera, who has trained various national players including Reggie Hearn of the US, Adrian Zamora of Mexico, and Jeff Chan and Carl Tamayo of Gilas Pilipinas.
“It motivates me to push myself further to learn new things, develop my mindset to innovate new safety skills training because nowadays, there’s a lot of injuries happening in the game. I have to focus on new drills to make basketball easier and find specific ways of teaching players to improve their game to the next level. I’ll seek different methods and approach to help players build a long-term career in basketball.”
Codera is very eager to share to his fellow countrymen all his technical know-how on the sport in an effort to hone the skills of underprivileged kids especially in Tabuelan, San Remigio, Bogo and other northern towns of his beloved home province.
“To the new coaches and new basketball trainers as well as the aspiring ones, keep on working hard. Believe in yourself and always learn new things because basketball never stops,” Codera ended.