Founder & Program Director
Program strategy · Coaching staff
Leads day-to-day operations, sets the coaching philosophy and oversees tournament scheduling, safety standards and family communication across every age group.
Who we are
A nonprofit built by this community, for its kids
We are a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) youth basketball organization in Abilene, Texas. Our teams compete seriously — and our program is judged by what our athletes become, not by what a bracket says.
- Serving youth since
- 2018
- Tax status
- 501(c)(3) public charity
- Age groups
- Grades 3 – 12, boys & girls
- Based in
- Dyess AFB / Abilene, TX
Our mission
Basketball is the reason they show up. It’s not the reason we’re here.
We exist to develop young people — on the court through skill and competition, and off it through discipline, academics, sportsmanship and service. The scoreboard is a teaching tool. The person walking out of the gym is the outcome.
“We want every kid who comes through this program to leave a better teammate, a better student and a better neighbor than they arrived.”
01
Every kid gets coached
Small rosters exist for a reason. If an athlete is on our team, they get real minutes, real feedback and a real plan for getting better.
02
Character over box scores
We measure a season by how our athletes treat teammates, officials and opponents — not by a trophy shelf.
03
Cost should never decide
Need-based assistance keeps the door open for families who want to play but can't absorb the full cost of travel basketball.
04
Accountable to our community
We are answerable to the families, sponsors and neighbors who make this program possible, and we operate that way year-round.
Our history
How a few parents and some gym time became a program
Abilene Hope Ballers 4 Life grew out of a simple gap: local kids who wanted to compete and families who couldn't absorb the cost of travel basketball. Here is how the organization has grown since.
2018
Abilene Hope Ballers 4 Life is founded
A handful of Abilene and Dyess AFB parents pool gym time and volunteer coaching to give local kids a competitive team to play for. The organization receives federal 501(c)(3) recognition under EIN 82-4572190.
2019
First full AAU tournament season
Two age-group rosters travel the regional circuit for the first time, competing in sanctioned AAU events across North and West Texas.
2021
Academic accountability program launches
Grade checks and signed academic pledges become a requirement for travel eligibility, formalizing what had been an informal expectation.
2022
Skills Academy opens to the community
Year-round small-group training expands beyond rostered players, welcoming any young athlete in the Big Country regardless of team affiliation.
2023
Need-based assistance fund established
Donor and sponsor support makes it possible to offset registration, uniform and travel costs so participation is never decided by a family's budget.
2024
Girls' program expands
Additional girls' age-group rosters join the travel schedule, broadening access to competitive basketball across the community.
Today
Serving athletes across the Big Country
Boys' and girls' teams from 4th grade through varsity level compete regionally, train year-round and give back through free clinics and service projects.
Player development
Six things every athlete takes home with them
Our development model is deliberately simple. These are the standards we coach to at every practice, in every age group, whether a player is starting varsity or picking up the game for the first time.
Skill
Repeatable fundamentals taught with patience — footwork, handles, shooting form and reads that hold up when the game speeds up.
Teamwork
Players learn to give up a good shot for a great one, talk on defense and trust the teammate standing next to them.
Discipline
Be on time, keep your grades up, respect the officials, finish what you start. The standard is the same for every athlete on the roster.
Leadership
Upperclassmen mentor younger players, run warm-ups and represent the program in the community as its most visible ambassadors.
Sportsmanship
We shake hands after every game, win or lose. How our athletes carry themselves matters more to us than any final score.
Confidence
Consistent reps and honest coaching build belief — the kind that follows a young person off the court and into the classroom.
Coaches, mentors & board
The people accountable for this program
Coaching staff and board members are volunteers from the Abilene and Dyess AFB community. Everyone working directly with athletes completes background screening and abuse-prevention training.
Head Coach, Boys' Travel Teams
Player development · Film review
Runs practice planning and individual development plans for the boys' rosters, with an emphasis on defensive fundamentals and decision-making under pressure.
Head Coach, Girls' Travel Teams
Skill training · Mentorship
Leads the girls' program from tryouts through championship weekends and mentors upperclassmen navigating recruiting and college readiness.
Academic Coordinator
Grade checks · Study hall
Manages academic pledges, coordinates grade checks each season and connects athletes who need extra classroom support with tutoring resources.
Board Treasurer
Finances · IRS filings
Maintains the organization's books, prepares annual IRS filings and reports on how donation and sponsorship dollars are allocated each season.
Volunteer & Community Coordinator
Volunteers · Outreach events
Recruits and onboards volunteers, schedules background screening and organizes the free clinics and service projects our teams run each year.
Want to know who coaches your athlete’s age group? Ask us — we will introduce you to the staff before you commit to anything.
Accountability
Transparency isn't a page — it's how we operate
Donors, sponsors and families deserve to know exactly who they are supporting and how the money is used. Our registration details are public, and our filings are available on request.
- Legal name
- Abilene Hope Ballers 4 Life
- EIN
- 82-4572190
- Tax status
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- Registered address
- 154 Alabama Rd, Dyess AFB, TX 79607
Registered 501(c)(3) public charity
Abilene Hope Ballers 4 Life is recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt public charity under EIN 82-4572190. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Annual IRS filings
The organization files its required annual return with the IRS. Copies of our determination letter and most recent filing are available to any donor on request.
Volunteer-led board
A volunteer board of directors oversees finances, safety policy and program decisions. No board member receives compensation for board service.
Program-first spending
Donations go directly to gym time, tournament entry fees, uniforms, travel, insurance and need-based assistance for families who could not otherwise participate.
Screened, trained coaches
Coaches and regular volunteers complete background screening and abuse-prevention training before working with athletes, consistent with AAU membership requirements.
Open to families
Parents and guardians are welcome at practices and encouraged to ask how the program is run, how funds are used and how decisions get made.
Get involved
Come see how we run a practice.
The best way to understand this program is to watch one. Reach out and we'll tell you when the next open session is.
Reach us directly
Phone+1 (325) 627-8373Location154 Alabama Rd
Dyess AFB, TX 79607
501(c)(3) Public Charity · EIN 82-4572190