BSN Sports, a division of Varsity Brands, announced that Mike Procopio, director of player development for the Dallas Mavericks and renowned coach in the professional basketball community – has joined the company as a brand ambassador for the Basketball division.
Procopio, who has been with the Mavericks since 2013, will draw on his many years of expertise and insight to help enhance customer, vendor and other relationships and expand the company’s footprint in the growing basketball market. This includes hosting 25 free basketball coaching clinics around the nation this fall to help ensure preparedness for the upcoming season and equip coaches with the latest knowledge and resources.
Among his many achievements, Procopio served as a Strategic Game Management Coach for Kobe Bryant from 2009-2012, breaking down his game film as well as giving him insight on upcoming opponents. Bryant won two NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers during the four-year period. “He’s my Jack Bauer,” said Bryant in a 2010 Sports Illustrated article. “He gave me all the edits and scouting reports and wrote defensive rotations of the Celtics. He was my eyes and ears, so when I played the game I’d use all the scouting reports and all the information. And it was huge for me.”
In addition to working with Bryant, Procopio served as an NBA Player Development Coach with ATTACK Athletics from 2003-2013 and was an assistant coach for the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League (now known as the G League) from 2009-2010. He has also worked at several Nike Grassroots Basketball Camps and Skills Academies both in USA and China since 1996.
“I’m honored to join the BSN Sports team as we help enhance the company’s preeminent basketball brand,” Procopio said. “There’s considerable need to develop coaches – and their ability to nurture players – at all levels. Using the vast platform BSN Sports provides, we can help coaches teach their players and impact their game on and off the floor.”
Ben Connery, BSN Sports’ VP of Category Management and Youth Sales, added, “Mike’s background and experience is unparalleled: from Kobe to the Mavericks and beyond. It is a testament to the BSN Sports platform that we’ve attracted a professional of his caliber. Most importantly, this platform greatly expands Mike’s sphere of positive influence. We’re thrilled to have him on the team and are currently filling up his coaching clinic schedule for 2019 and 2020.”
