Private Lessons & Coaches in Chapel Hill, NC

Jaylon Gibson – Basketball Coach & Instructor Hi! I’m Jaylon Gibson, a former collegiate basketball player from , with experience competing at the Power Five, Division I, and Division II levels. Basketball has been a major part of my life for over a decade, and I love helping young athletes grow in skill, confidence, and love for the game. Standing 6’10” and playing primarily in the frontcourt, I was a 3-star high school prospect, ranked among the top players in North Carolina. I attended Grace Christian School, where I averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds per game as a senior, leading my team to the state playoffs. I also competed on the AAU circuit with UC27 Carolina DreamChasers and Team Wall Elite, gaining experience against high-level competition nationwide. At the collegiate level, I began my career at NC State, competing in the ACC and learning the daily habits, discipline, and preparation required at the highest level of college basketball. I later transferred to Winston-Salem State University, where I had a breakout season and was named to the All-CIAA Frontcourt Team and All-CIAA Tournament Team. That year, I ranked top-10 in the CIAA in both scoring and rebounding, earned multiple CIAA Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week honors, and helped my team compete at a championship level. I also spent time at UNC Greensboro and Charleston Southern, where I continued developing as a player and teammate. At Charleston Southern, I recorded a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double before a season-ending injury. That experience strengthened my understanding of resilience, recovery, and mental toughness lessons I now pass on to the athletes I coach. My Coaching Style My coaching style is positive, structured, and encouraging, while still holding athletes to a high standard. I believe players learn best when they feel supported, challenged, and confident. I focus on teaching the why behind skills, not just the motions, so athletes can apply what they learn directly to games. I emphasize: - Strong fundamentals (footwork, balance, shooting form, defensive positioning) - Basketball IQ (spacing, decision-making, reading the game) - Confidence and effort (playing hard, staying coachable, learning from mistakes) - Game-ready skills that translate to real competition Because I’ve played at multiple collegiate levels, I’m able to tailor instruction to each athlete’s experience level and explain how skills progress as competition increases. Lesson Format & What to Expect Each session is organized, engaging, and age-appropriate, typically including: - Dynamic warm-up and movement prep - Skill development (ball handling, shooting, finishing, defense) - Position-specific instruction (especially helpful for post players and wings) - Game-like drills and competitive reps - Positive feedback and teaching moments I also can give advice on what to look for when seeking to play for a good basketball program at any level. I work with athletes of all skill levels, from beginners learning the basics to more advanced players preparing for middle school or high school competition and seeking college scholarships. My goal is for every athlete to leave sessions better than they arrived more confident, more skilled, and excited to keep improving. Why I Coach Basketball has given me incredible opportunities and lifelong lessons. Coaching allows me to give back by investing in the next generation of athletes. I care deeply about player development not just as basketball players, but as young people learning discipline, teamwork, and confidence. If you’re looking for a coach who brings high-level playing experience, intentional teaching, and genuine care for each athlete, I’d love to work with you!

I'm an English teacher with over 12 years of experience teaching composition and research at the college level. I have a master's degree in English composition and rhetoric and have taught students at the University of Georgia and Louisiana State University. Before teaching college, I was a private English tutor in Seoul, South Korea for two years, working with students of all age ranges from K-12.

Hello family!!! I’m Ja and I’m currently playing simi professional basketball for the Carolina kings. I would love to help better the youth in my community get better at the sport they love playing.

"Ja honestly made basketball fun for me again😂😂ik it sounds crazy but he honestly did.! Thank you man!!

Matthew Donahue is an actor and teacher who helps performers develop truthful, connected, and compelling work. He has taught Acting for Non-Majors at UNC-Chapel Hill, led university-level workshops, and taught through PlayMakers Repertory Company’s youth programs. He also works privately with actors preparing for BFA and MFA auditions. His teaching style is collaborative, practical, and individualized, drawing from his professional experience, MFA training, and Meisner study.

I have 15+ years of WSI swim instruction tips and tricks that fuel my creativity and joy for teaching. I also hold and maintain a CPR and First Aid cert. I am passionate and patient, and I have experience with special needs. I absolutely love beginners, and can teach all the way up through getting them to swim team or preparing for open water swim. I specialize in ages 6 years and up through active adults, and have even worked with seniors.

"My daughter who is neurodivergent has been swimming with Mariah for a couple of years. She is able to thread water in the deep end of the pool, swim on her back and is now learning freestyle.

Darlene has spent over 30 years in the field of Sports Medicine and high-performance coaching. She earned her BS degree in Sports Medicine with a concentration in Movement Science & kinesiology. Darlene also holds two graduate certifications in Mindfulness Education and Inspired Coaching & Leadership. Darlene has worked with high performance athletes in tennis and soccer, from Juniors to professionals. She is WTA and USTA credentialed as a coach.

Graduated in 2018 as a French and Francophone studies major from FIU. As I am Colombian born, I know how to speak Spanish and use it every single day at home. Grade Potential Tutoring was my first endeavor where I discovered my Tutoring skills. Later, Parliament Tutoring, where I tutored online. Nowadays, I work as a Volunteer and follow up French online, which has got my French skills fresh and ready to be used.

"Paola is such a fun, caring and talented woman, making her a great tutor!

I have been playing baseball for more than 20 years and coaching youth teams for several seasons. Across six seasons as a head coach, my teams have a combined 49-9-1 record. I have also coached our town all star team as an assistant, sharing many of the responsibilities of the head coach. Parents and players regularly give positive feedback about the improvement they see and the environment I create. My approach is built on a simple idea: players learn best when they enjoy the game, feel supported, and are encouraged to grow. I want players to like playing for me and to know that I take their development seriously. I participate directly in drills by throwing, hitting, fielding, and demonstrating mechanics so they can see how each movement should look. In individual lessons, that means you get clear examples, detailed feedback, and drills tailored to how you move and what you want to improve. I do not believe in yelling at players or embarrassing anyone in front of the team. On the teams I coach, we win and lose together. If a specific mistake needs to be addressed, I handle it one on one and give clear, honest feedback. At the same time, I keep expectations clear and consistent. If effort or focus drops, we reset with conditioning or structured drills to get everyone locked back in. I teach that good baseball comes from strong mechanics, physical strength, discipline, and confidence. We run, do push ups, and talk through game situations so players learn to think the game, not just play it. I want players to enjoy baseball, understand why it is fun, and learn that being good at something is enjoyable even when the work gets tough. I am happy to work on any part of a player’s game, but I have a particular passion for pitching and love helping pitchers sharpen their mechanics, command, and mound presence. Whether you want to improve your pitching, throwing, hitting, or overall baseball IQ, I focus on clear instruction, repeatable fundamentals, and a mindset that helps you succeed on the field.

"As a parent, I couldn’t be more grateful for the positive influence Coach Alex has been both on and off the field. From day one, the coach created an environment that was fun, encouraging, and disciplined while helping the players grow not only as athletes but as individuals. On many occasions, the coach would stay after practice to work one-on-one with players on pitching and batting. That extra effort showed how much Coach Alex truly cares about each player’s development. I’m so grateful for the confidence and growth my child has experienced each season with Coach Alex!