By student Lincoln N. and edited for clarity by New Life Academy.
Basketball has long played a meaningful role in student life at New Life Academy, creating connections that span generations on and off the court. The Boys’ Varsity team has gained numerous plaudits from their incredible and unforgettable runs to the State tournament in recent years, finishing as high as second. In addition to that well-run high school program, New Life also has countless middle school teams.
Several of these teams are coached by NLA alumni who were part of that legendary State team. Both Tony Gargaro, class of 2025, and Charles Bryant, class of 2023, have come back to the Eagles’ nest seeking to pour their knowledge and love into the next generation of Eagles basketball.
“I always found things like Junior Eagles [Lower School basketball program] really fun and fulfilling during my time here,” Tony explained. “I always felt like coaching was the best way to stay in the game beyond playing, so it was an easy decision.” Tony has stepped into the role of coaching the fifth and sixth grade boys’ team for the 2025-26 basketball season. His love for basketball and affection for New Life made it the simplest decision to come back and coach the younger kids. “Basketball has been engraved in me for so long. I love watching, I love playing it, I love studying it. I just enjoy every aspect of the game,” reflected Tony.
Charles added, “Coach Charlie [Hoaglund] asked one day if I would be interested and able to coach, and I thought it sounded like a ton of fun!”
The opportunity to coach New Life middle school basketball is not a one-way street. It’s a partnership that sees both parties grow immensely across many areas. The kids can learn from someone who has been there and done it. Charles and Tony both serve as role models of how to be successful in sports and be rooted in faith at the same time.
“I hope that I am able to allow them to have a lot of fun and learn a love for the game of basketball,” continued Charles. “At the same time, the kids are teaching me to be more patient with other people.”
Charles and Tony also get a lot out of this experience. They’ve been given the chance to stay involved in basketball and in a community that once supported them. Sharpening coaching skills as if they were a set of kitchen knives and dealing with the responsibility of caring for young kids will prove to be immense down the road.
I came back to coach because that’s what I want to do in life – coach basketball. I felt like this was a really good opportunity to test that and see how it goes.
Tony Gargaro – NLA Alum and Middle School Basketball Coach
New Life is reaping the rewards of its own programs each and every day. Not only do they do an excellent job of creating a program that is enjoyable for students during their time here, but the coaching staff has also built a strong community that former players are returning toand using the skills they learned to give back.
New Life basketball did a great job of preparing me for coaching by teaching me standards and the fundamentals from sixth grade all the way through varsity.
Charles Bryant – NLA Alum and Middle School Basketball Coach
Charles’ team is also coached in a joint effort with his dad, Dr. Michael Bryant. Interestingly, Dr. Bryant is a New Life 1992 alum himself and a former Eagles basketball player. This father-son coaching duo simply adds to the story’s fascinating depth, serving as living proof of how New Life operates.
Current varsity head coach Charlie Hoaglund insisted, “It’s been amazing to see former NLA boys’ basketball players giving back to the same community that poured into them when they were younger. It’s a testament to the strength of NLA’s community.
