Off-Season Hoops, Inc. is a Non-Profit corporation enhancing lives of adolescents through programs designed to develop mind and body and to encourage open discussions about life and leadership both on and off the court.

Off-Season Hoops, Inc. give Student Athletes the opportunity to develop their full potential by participating in community-based educational and sports related programs.

We focus on helping Student Athletes recognize the importance of personal responsibility, integrity, kindness and respect - on and off the court. We encourage values that lead to a more meaningful and productive life for them and that are essential for a better world.

Off-Season Hoops, Inc. is a Non-Profit corporation registered with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We provide local student athletes with opportunities to participate in structured sports and educational activities throughout the year.

To execute and best support the Mission of the organization, Off-Season Hoops, Inc. has assembled a diverse group of professionals to serve on their Board of Directors. The experience and background of each Board Member provides the necessary leadership to identify and deliver quality programming to female High School Student Athletes both on and off the court. Below are those who currently serve on the Board of Directors:

Patrick Costello - Patrick has thirty years of varied work experience in higher education, business, manufacturing, sales, marketing, management training, and media advertising. He also has a diverse background of basketball coaching experience from youth programs through the college level. Patrick earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management from Stonehill College.

As a parent of Student-Athletes in four different high schools, Patrick had the opportunity to observe multiple athletic programs and coaching philosophies in various sports within these secondary schools. In some athletic programs, he observed a lack of organized community-based activities for the Student Athletes.  In his opinion, education outside the classroom and community involvement is important to the overall experience of any Student-Athlete. Seeing this disconnect, Patrick founded Off-Season Hoops, Inc.. Coaches can partner with Off-Season Hoops, Inc. and have them facilitate educational programming to enhance their Student Athlete's overall high school athletic experience.

Susan Downer - Susan is a Massachusetts Professional Status Certified Teacher (1-6) and former Girls Varsity High School Basketball Coach at Central Catholic in Lawrence, MA. She graduated from Merrimack College with a B.A. Degree in Sociology and Elementary Education. She was awarded a four year athletic basketball scholarship to Merrimack and was a two year team Captain for her team. Susan also earned her Masters Degree in Education from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA.

Susan has over twenty years of dedicated teaching experience in the community. On the court, Susan is a very successful high school coach. Her primary role is coaching and developing Student-Athletes. She is an excellent communicator with athletes, parents and school administrators. In the classroom, Susan develops lesson plans that meet varied student needs. She consistently evaluates/assesses student development and implements study methodologies to enhance an individual's progress. She always creates and maintains a positive learning environment in the classroom and on the court.

Dr. Maritza Morell - Dr. Morell is a Board certified Pediatric Dentist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentristry. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and part of the Executive Board for the Massachusetts and National Hispanic Dental Association. Dr. Morell went to college at Loyola University in New Orleans. She completed her specialized dental training at the University of Michigan Dental School and the University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine. In addition, she has earned two additional degrees in Public Health from the Harvard University of Public Health and the University of Puerto Rico School of Public Health.

Besides maintaining her pediatric dentistry private practice, Dr. Morell is an active teacher, researcher, lecturer, and public health advocate for children's dental access issues. Academically, Dr. Morell has held the position of Director of Pre-Doctoral Pediatric Dentistry at the Harvard School of Medicine. She is part of the faculty of Pediatric Dentistry at the department of Developmental Biology at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and a Junior Associate Professor at the Children's Hospital Boston. She has also received numerous leadership, academic, and faculty awards at different institutions. Her expertise in sedation, general anesthesia and hospital dentistry, facilitates to offer dental care to extremely anxious children, children with disabilities, and with children with acute/chronic special health care needs.

Susan Spitale -  Before retiring, Sue was the Northeast Regional Director at Key Program, Inc. which is a Non-Profit Agency that provides shelter and residential care, as well as a full complement of home based services, to at risk youth and their families. Sue graduated from Central Michigan University with a B.A. in Secondary Education and also earned her Masters Degree in Counseling Education from the University of New Hamphsire.

At the Key Program, Sue oversaw their residential and home-based services throughout the Northeast Region which includes Northeastern Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In addition to the great work she did at Key, Sue has held numerous advisory and board member positions with organizations in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The posts include: The Community Youth Diversion Program of Portsmouth New Hampshire, The Massachusetts Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, and Trauma Informed Leadership Team Northeast. In addition, Sue is a long serving board member of the Foster Kids of Merrimack Valley. She has also been selected as a federal grant reviewer for the Executive Office of Public Safety - Governor's Office Massachusetts.

Scott Young -  Scott is the Assistant Principal at North Andover High School. Scott is very familar with the Merrimack Valley. He attended Central Catholic, taught and coached at Shawsheen Tech and Greater Lawrence Regional, and was also a swimming coach at his alma mater. He has been at North Andover since 2002 as an administrator and coach.