SHERRY LEVIN APPOINTED AS THE HEAD COACH FOR MACCABI USA’S OPEN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM FOR THE 20TH WORLD MACCABIAH GAMES
Philadelphia, PA, May 23rd, 2016 – Donna Orender, Open Women’s Basketball Chairman of the USA Organizing Committee for the 20th World Maccabiah Games & 2015 inductee to the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, has appointed Sherry Levin as the Head Coach for the USA Open Women’s Basketball team. Coach Levin will lead a team of 12 athletes to compete in Israel, July 4-17, 2017. The World Maccabiah Games are the world’s third largest international sporting event, with over 9,000 total participants representing over 75 nations. In 2013 at the 19th World Maccabiah Games, the USA Open Women’s Basketball team won the gold medal.
“Sherry’s proven success as a coach and her connection to the Maccabiah makes her a wonderful choice to head the Maccabi USA Open Women’s Basketball team in their pursuit of gold,” said Orender.
No stranger to Maccabi USA, Levin was the Head Coach of the Open Women’s Basketball team at the 12th Pan American Maccabi Games in São Paulo, Brazil, winning a gold medal. She was also the Head Coach for Team USA’s Juniors Girls’ Basketball team at the 19th World Maccabiah Games in Israel, winning her second gold medal. Between the two events, her combined coaching record is 9-0.
As Head Women’s Basketball Coach from 2001-2008 at Worcester Academy, a prestigious New England Prep School, Coach Levin’s teams won two New England Championships, including a 24-0 season in 2006. While at the helm at WA their record stands at 139 wins, to just 21 losses. Championships continued as a seven year Director of Athletics and Girls Varsity Basketball Coach at Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill, MA. Her 2013 team finished the season undefeated, won the NEPSAC Class C championship and captured 4 consecutive EIL Conference titles. Her total record as Head Coach stands at 284-61.
“It is an honor and a privilege to have been selected by Maccabi USA as the Open Women’s Basketball coach for the 20th World Maccabiah Games in Israel,” said Levin. “My love affair with the Maccabi Movement first began in 1981 as a player and has ballooned since. The depth of my experiences and connection to Israel through the lens of the Maccabiah is one I am inspired to share with the group of elite women’s basketball players selected. Representing the USA is an amazing opportunity, one filled with inspiration to not only pursue gold, but to connect the ideals of our Jewish heritage with our national pride. More valuable than the medals won were the lasting connections to our heritage, and the bonds that we shared through our collaboration to pursuing excellence.”
Levin was a Division I women’s basketball player at Holy Cross College, where she was honored as a Kodak District I All-American, two-time first team Division I CoSida Academic All-American, four-time Jewish All-American, and MAAC Conference Scholar Athlete. She still holds the Holy Cross all-time scoring record for women with 2,253 points. For her historic career in basketball, Levin has been inducted into the Halls of Fame of Holy Cross College Athletics, Newton North High School (MA) and the New England Basketball Hall of Fame.
Maccabi USA is recruiting female basketball players to compete on the Open Women’s Basketball team at the 20th World Maccabiah Games, ages 18+. For tryout information and applications for the Games, please visit maccabiusa.com.
Maccabi USA builds Jewish pride through sports, generating the emotional intensity, high ideals, and powerful camaraderie of competition. We connect athletes, volunteers, and supporters with the global Jewish community. Our athletic, educational, and cultural experiences build Jewish identity, perpetuate Jewish continuity worldwide, and strengthen support for the State of Israel.
For more information, please contact Program Director, Shane Carr, at (215) 561-6900 x4147, or by email at scarr@maccabiusa.com.
About the organization:
Maccabi USA (MUSA) is a federally-recognized not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with an extensive history of enriching Jewish lives through athletic, cultural and educational programs. The organization is the official sponsor of the United States Team to the World Maccabiah Games, and the Pan American and European Maccabi Games, as well as a sponsor of the JCC Maccabi Games for teens in North America. As the official Maccabi representative in the U.S., Maccabi USA supports Jewish athletic endeavors, enhanced by cultural and educational activities in the United States, Israel and throughout the Diaspora.
MUSA develops, promotes and supports international, national and regional athletic-based activities and facilities. It strives to provide Jewish athletes the world over the opportunity to share their heritage and customs in competitive athletic settings. MUSA supports programs that embody the Maccabi ideals of Jewish Continuity, Zionism and Excellence in Sport. Maccabi USA Builds Jewish Pride Through Sports.
Maccabi USA is a U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) Multi-Sport Organization (MSO). The organization is one of 38 MSOs nationwide to be recognized by the USOC for its ability to cultivate a national interest in sport and increase opportunities for participation internationally, nationally and at the grassroots level.
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