A much familiar face is getting a bit more face time at North Sunflower Academy. Anthony Rivera has been hired as the new JV and varsity girls basketball coach. Rivera, no stranger to NSA, was on the sideline last season assisting boys’ basketball coach George Roberson.
Rivera, a Drew High School and Lindenwood University alum has been coaching in the Delta for quite some time.
“I’m very excited. To me, this is a long time coming. I’ve been working with kids in individual training for 10-plus years,” Coach Rivera said. “The ability to share my knowledge and my skill level with a group of girls who I know love the game of basketball makes me ecstatic. I’m ready to put in the work because I know what we have over there.”
Last season, he was an assistant under boy’s head coach George Roberson who looks forward to continuing their coaching work together.
“I think it’s a good pick,” Coach Roberson said. “He knows the game and he’s going to care for the girls a lot. I’m going to miss him a lot this year but we’re going to try and help each other out and get these programs back to where they used to be.”
Rivera attended Ray Brooks High School and was part of championship football and basketball teams before transferring to Drew High. He tried out at Delta State and eventually ended up at Rust College. From there he transferred to Lindenwood in Missouri where he attained his bachelor’s degree in physical education. He came home and started coaching at Drew High as defensive coordinator and JV basketball coach and assistant football coach. When Drew and Ruleville consolidated, he was out of a job but with a coaching desire fully stoked, he started his own youth sports program.
“I got involved in travel ball and started my own youth program to keep kids active around the community,” he said.
He then worked for the Cleveland Park Commission and got certified to work with younger children.
“Stephen Glorioso gave me my first start and I decided to take it more serious and worked my way through the system learning everything I could from field work to coaching,” he said.
His training program, Beard Athletics Youth Training Academy, includes many athletes who play for different schools across the Delta including NSA. He stopped by the school and dropped off a resume more than a year ago. That led to an interview and then an assistant’s position and now head coach.
“Now I’m a North Sunflower Rebel,” Coach Rivera said. “Coach Todd Kitchings gave me the opportunity to coach at North Sunflower. I’m very grateful to be under his wing.”
Coach Rivera will also head up the boys’ baseball team in the spring as Kitchings will fully focus on his athletic director and assistant football coach roles. Rivera’s basketball philosophy will be owning the transition game.
“I’m a big fan of transition. Defense and execution leads to offense and as long as we’re in great condition mentally and physically, no one can beat us,” Coach Rivera said.
The former girls’ coach, Jennie McCullough, took the opportunity to coach at Delta Academy, a familiar foe. Rivera has known her since his playing days at Drew while McCullough was at Cleveland High School.
“I know Coach McCullough very well and grew up around her and have seen her in action for quite a while,” he said. “Coach McCullough left a big pair of shoes to fill but basketball is basketball regardless of where you are at or who is coaching. I know what to do to get the job done.”
