UPB Welcomes Colby, Wes, and Corey to the Player Development Coaching Staff
By: Dylan Tehada
UPB is welcoming three new Player Development Coaches to the roster! Colby Vazquez, Wes Preston, and Corey Cilia will all be joining the UPB player development staff and look to share their love and passion for the game of basketball. All three coaches come from impressive basketball careers and bring a great deal of on-court and off-court knowledge to share with the athletes who train at UPB. As these coaches embark on their UPB coaching journeys, we look forward to all the stories they have to share and the lessons they will teach to the UPB community.
Colby Vazquez grew up in Millbrae, California and was raised in a basketball household. Whether it be watching the Golden State Warriors on TV or playing the game or playing in youth basketball leagues from a young age, Vazquez has always had a passion for hoops. Vazquez has played basketball his whole life and has thrived on each team he has been a part of. After years of playing in competitive youth leagues he began his high school career at Mills High School. Vazquez played on the Varsity team at Mills High School beginning his sophomore year and racked up multiple team and individual accomplishments, such as a second-round CCS tournament appearance and league MVP, during his four years. After wrapping up an impressive High School career, Vazquez took his talents to the University of Jamestown in North Dakota to begin his collegiate career where he learned a whole new style of play and fulfilled his dream of playing ball in college.
Vazquez seeks to not only bring his knowledge for the game to UPB, but to impart his wisdom about the mental side of the game to UPB athletes he trains with. He understands the power of honing mental skills and strives to help young athletes develop strong habits early in their careers.
“The biggest thing that I want to bring to the table at UPB, is instilling a lot of confidence in the players I train with… When [the athletes] can see how much they're progressing day by day, week by week, it's going to skyrocket their confidence, so that's really what I'm looking for,” Vazquez said.
Wes Preston was born and raised in Mendocino, California and has developed a strong passion for hoops throughout his life. Preston played competitive AAU ball throughout his childhood and made long trips to basketball camps throughout California. He embarked on his high school basketball journey at Mendocino High School, where he saw his game grow leaps and bounds. Throughout high school, Preston embodied what it meant to be a true point guard leading his team and league in assists during his senior year and contributing to two league titles for Mendocino High School. To this day, Preston plays ball whenever he can playing in several Men’s leagues throughout the Bay Area.
After his playing career came to a close in high school, Preston returned to his Alma Mater in Mendocino as a coach and began embarking on his coaching journey. During his stint as a coach at his Alma Mater, Preston developed a passion for helping his team grow and elevate their skills on a daily basis. He embraced what it means to be a leader and a role model and seeks to employ those same exact coaching qualities with the UPB community.
“[As a coach,] I realized the impact that I could make by being a leader and a role model and having life experience to be able to help [athletes] out, on and off the court,” Preston said. “Being put in a position where I can educate someone for their own success in their basketball path is something I'm very excited about.”
Corey Cilia, born and raised in Half Moon Bay, has been playing basketball for as long as he can remember. He began playing ball with his older brothers when he was in kindergarten and his love for the game only grew from the moment he made his first basket at his childhood home. Throughout his young career, Cilia played in local CYO leagues in Half Moon Bay and at his local middle school. He then took his talents to Half Moon Bay High School where he earned a spot on varsity during his sophomore year after training endless hours with the coaching staff at his high school after his freshman year. During his sophomore year in high school, Cilia also received a rare opportunity to workout with a professional team in Vietnam while he was visiting. After working out with the team, he received interest from the coaching staff at an early age, which would come full circle after he graduated from college. After a successful collegiate career at University of California, Santa Cruz, Cilia embarked on his overseas basketball journey where he had the privilege of playing for multiple professional teams in Vietnam and Thailand.
After a long-winding playing career, Cilia has shifted his focus to coaching and sharing his variety of experiences in the states and overseas with the younger generation of hoopers. As he embarks on his coaching journey at UPB, he is also pursuing his Master’s degree in Sports Psychology as he seeks to make an impact in helping athletes hone their mental skills. He is excited to impart his basketball wisdom on the UPB community and cannot wait to get started.
“It’s been an amazing experience sharing all the knowledge from experiences [starting from] when I was a freshman and sophomore in high school scratching and clawing for a spot on the varsity team to being a professional basketball player…” Cilia said. “I feel like I have a lot of knowledge to offer and a lot to give to this generation of hoopers, so that's a big reason why I wanted to work [for a program] like UPB.”
We cannot wait to see these three coaches develop in their roles at UPB and to see the growth of all the athletes they train with. We know that their knowledge, experience, and love for the game will be indispensable additions to the UPB community and are excited to see the impact they will make!
