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08/02/2021 12:00 AMAs a teacher and coach in the town of Branford, Aly Medeiros has always tried to attend the high school girls’ basketball games in order to support the team’s athletes. Now, Medeiros will have a much closer look at the Hornets after having recently been named the new head coach of the Branford varsity girls’ basketball squad.
A Northford resident, Medeiros is a 5th-grade science and math teacher at Walsh Intermediate School, where she has been the girls’ basketball coach for the past six seasons. When she saw another coaching position had opened up in the district in which she teaches, Medeiros felt that it would be a perfect fit and decided to go for her first role as a varsity head coach.
“I was so surprised honestly. I still think I’m a little bit in shock,” said Medeiros. “I don’t necessarily have the varsity experience. I was very nervous coming in with that. But between my passion, playing experience, and rapport with the kids on the team, it gave me an advantage. It felt amazing that I was going to be at the next level, helping them progress. It’s pretty special.”
Athletic Director Tom Ermini feels glad to be bringing Medeiros into the high school basketball program. What stood out for Ermini with Medeiros was that, rather than focusing on where the team is going to be in five years, she’s more concerned about improving the current-day Hornets and getting more girls at the school to play hoops.
“I gave an anonymous survey to the players on this year’s team and wanted to know what they were looking for in the next coach. Amongst myself and the interview committee, we agreed that Aly was the right fit for what our program needs now,” Ermini said. “She is going to bring a lot of excitement and enthusiasm about playing for the high school. She really spoke to how she wants to start rebuilding the program’s numbers immediately.”
Before she was a coach, Medeiros played point guard for four years at Lyman Hall and then spent another four years at Albertus Magnus College. As a point guard, Medeiros thought like a coach and always wanted to lead her team in the right direction. After suffering a hip injury at Albertus, she began giving the coaching staff advice, which they listened to and implemented. Overall, Medeiros said that her experience as a basketball player had a big impact on the type of coach that she became.
“As a player, you always want what is best for your teammates. Being a point guard, you are helping coach and direct your team in the right position. It felt like a natural segue,” Medeiros said. “I had to have hip surgery. My coach would take my advice and listened. It was nice to see it make a difference when I wasn’t out there. I want everyone to understand that it doesn’t matter if you’re losing—you have to persevere.”
After playing college basketball, Medeiros realized that her time in the sport didn’t have to end when she graduated. Medeiros decided to become a coach with the Connecticut Starters—an AAU team that she had previously played for—beginning in 2007. Medeiros has held that role ever since, in addition to coaching the girls’ squad at Walsh for the last six years.
Medeiros said that coaching has taught her how important it is to build a community. Medeiros has learned that you need to be flexible and willing to be there for your players, whether it’s on or off the court.
“Every kid is different. Every team is different. You can’t do the same thing. You have to go off the kids you have. What are their strengths, what are their weaknesses? Being able to adjust and be flexible is really important,” said Medeiros. “Trust is huge. You have to show that the players can trust you. I want them to know they could come to me, whether it’s basketball or not basketball. You need that community.”
Branford finished with a record of 2-9 last season. As she takes the reins for the 2021-’22 campaign, Medeiros said that her players can expect to focus on hard work, positivity, and communication. Medeiros wants to build a family atmosphere in the program and have her players understand that you can grow both individually and as a team while dealing with mistakes.
“I want them to be able to push themselves and be OK with mistakes. I’d rather them miss a left-handed layup using their left hand than make it with their right hand,” Medeiros said. “I want them to be OK with growing and making mistakes. I want the upperclassmen to support the underclassmen, and they know I’ve got their back, as well.”
Over the years, Medeiros has been surprised to see that so few athletes play girls’ basketball at the high school, considering how much athletic talent there is in town. In her first year at the helm of the Hornets, Medeiros’s goal is to grow the numbers and field a team on which everyone can’t stop talking about how proud they are to play for Branford.
“My dream would be a freshman, JV, and varsity roster. I’m hoping by the end of the season, I have a group of girls who loved the season so much, they promote it to their friends and get them to try out,” said Medeiros. “All the 8th-graders, 7th-graders, and kids and rec—I want them to see that high school basketball is special. I want to build this sense of community where kids are saying, ‘This is where I want to be.’”