Story Courtesy of Berkeley College Department of Media Relations
Jonathan Pena, Head Coach of the Berkeley College Men's Basketball team, recently appeared on the sports radio station ESPN New York 98.7 FMprogram "New York Sports and Beyond."While speaking to host Larry Hardesty, Coach Pena discussed the values he instills in Berkeley Collegestudent-athletes to succeed on and off the court.
"We try to have fun, but also keep what we call our 'final destination' in mind, which is to make sure we put our players in the best position to succeed and ultimately graduate," Coach Pena said.
Click here to hear Coach Pena on "New York Sports and Beyond" in its entirety (starting at the 28 minute mark).
"January is National Mentorship Month, and I can't think of a better person who is being a mentor to the people on your team," host Larry Hardesty told Coach Pena. "You and Berkeley College are doing a tremendous job."
Coach Pena was promoted to Head Coach after serving as the Associate Head Coach for the 2016-2017 season, during which the Berkeley Knights earned their third consecutive United States Collegiate Athletic Association Division II National Championship. Having played for the Berkeley Knights from 2006 through 2009 himself, Coach Pena knows the challenges his players face while trying to balance the demands of basketball, academicsand family.
"Going through all of that, plus with all of the distractions from the outside, is the most difficult thing you could possibly put yourself through," Coach Pena said. "I tell them, 'You have to keep your life in perspective. You have got to understand that you are investing in your future.'"
Coach Pena graduated from Berkeley College in 2009 with a BBA in General Business. He juggles his responsibilities as Head Coach with his professional career as a CRM Manager at The Weather Company, an IBM Business. "It is a little difficult to balance it out, but when our guys go on to graduate, it helps put things into perspective," he said.
Equally important to Coach Pena is providing opportunities for the Berkeley Knights to give back to their communities. Most recently, players and coaching staffvolunteered in non-competitive basketball activitiesfor children and young adults with disabilities, organized by Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN) New York. Click here to read more about the collaboration with KEEN.
Giving back to the community aligns with a saying repeated by Coach Emeritus Chris Christiansen, someone who continues to serve as a mentor to Coach Pena and the Berkeley Knights: "Success is not just about your own achievements, but how you empower and inspire others to achieve their greatness."
"Coach Christiansen has empowered myself and all of the coaches to challenge ourselves to better help our players," Coach Pena said. "Having him continue to guide me and our team means the world to us."
The Berkeley Knights' record thus far this season is 14-1. Click the link below to access the Knights' 2017-2018 schedule.
http://berkeleycollegeknights.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/schedule
