Montverde, FL (September 17, 2025) – Montverde Academy boys' basketball head coach Steve Turner is excited to announce the full coaching staff that will work alongside him as he leads the Eagles' nationally renowned boys' basketball program into the 2025–26 season. The staff includes Associate Head Coach Joe Katuka and assistant coaches Christian Iozza, Bradley Jacks, and Austin Kelley. Each coach brings a distinct blend of coaching experience, playing background, and a passion for developing student-athletes on and off the court.
Turner, who was named head coach in March, inherits one of the most accomplished high school basketball programs in the country. Montverde Academy has earned multiple national championships, produced dozens of NBA players, and developed a reputation for excellence both athletically and academically. With his staff at MVA firmly in place, Turner emphasized the importance of surrounding himself with coaches who share his vision.
"I brought in a group that has major connectivity to each other and also their own personal skills to the game," Turner said. "Watching us now all together here and how we have been able to collaborate on different things and learn from each other is only going to bode well for the things we are going to do with the players."
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Associate Head Coach Joe Katuka
A 2007 Montverde Academy graduate, Associate Head Coach Joe Katuka brings the unique perspective of someone who has worn the Eagles jersey, competed at the collegiate and professional levels. As Associate Head Coach, he will play a central role in both on-court coaching and player development.
Katuka was part of MVA's undefeated 30–0 team during the 2006–07 season before starring at George Washington University, where his presence in the paint made him one of the program's most reliable big men. After graduating in 2011, he played professionally in Puerto Rico's BSN league before transitioning to coaching.
Since rejoining the Eagles, Katuka has coached multiple teams in MVA's Center for Basketball Development (CBD), including back-to-back championships in the Sunshine Independent Athletic Association (SIAA) in 2021–22 and 2022–23. He has also contributed as an assistant coach with the boys' national team during its run of national championships that past several years.
"Joe was one of the people who was a part of that process and there was a connectivity between the two of us immediately and that synergy I felt really good about because I wanted to make sure I had someone who understood the ins and outs of Montverde and had major connectivity to the school itself," Turner said. "Joe being a former player here as well as a coach here, he brought so many great things to the table. He was immediately a person that I said 'I have to have him a part of my staff.'"
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Assistant Coach Christian Iozza
Christian Iozza brings energy, compassion, and a unique perspective as the son of coach Turner. A native of Medford, Massachusetts, Iozza grew up immersed in basketball and youth sports. He graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a degree in Human Services after competing at Seton Hill University, an NCAA Division II institution.
Coaching has always been Iozza's passion. As early as high school, he dedicated his senior project to coaching a youth AAU basketball team, sparking a lifelong commitment to guiding student-athletes. He is particularly dedicated to supporting young people facing mental health challenges and credits mentors such as Rob Howard, Diallo Nelson, and Juan J. Hill for helping shape his coaching philosophy.
"I am honored and blessed to be in this position, and I look forward to serving these young men on the National basketball team, as well as the greater community of Montverde during this part of their journey," said Iozza. "In just a short time, this group has grown into brothers, pushing one another every day to be better. The passion, love, and commitment shown by the entirety of our staff—not only for the game, but for teaching is remarkable."
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Assistant Coach Bradley Jacks
Bradley Jacks brings both a championship pedigree as a player and proven experience as a college coach to Montverde Academy. He arrives after five seasons at Quinnipiac University, where he played an integral role in helping the Bobcats capture back-to-back Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) regular season titles in 2024 and 2025.
He began at Quinnipiac as a graduate assistant in 2019 before being promoted to video coordinator the following season and then to assistant coach in 2022. His tenure coincided with one of the program's most successful stretches in recent history, with consecutive 15–5 conference records and consistent postseason contention.
Prior to Quinnipiac, he served at Randolph-Macon College, working with All-American guard Buzz Anthony. He was also selected to the inaugural TopConnect Graduate Assistant Leadership Academy in 2020, chosen as one of just 22 young coaches nationally from more than 115 applicants.
As a player, Jacks was a standout at Babson College, where he captained the Beavers to three NCAA Division III tournament appearances and the 2017 NCAA Division III National Championship. A two-time All-Conference selection, he scored more than 1,100 points in his career and was known for his leadership on and off the court.
"I am extremely excited for the opportunity to coach with the National Team at Montverde Academy," Jacks said. "This program has a rich tradition of excellence, not just in basketball but across academics and athletics."
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Assistant Coach Austin Kelley
Austin Kelley combines coaching experience, operational expertise, and grassroots development in his dual role as Assistant Coach and Director of Montverde Academy's Center for Basketball Development (CBD).
Since arriving at MVA this past summer, Kelley has overseen the daily operations of the CBD, where more than 100 student-athletes train under the Academy's renowned player development program. His leadership includes supporting the coaching staff, managing logistics, and ensuring the CBD remains one of the nation's premier basketball development programs.
Before MVA, Kelley spent five years at Niagara University, first as Director of Operations and later as an assistant coach. He also served at George Washington University in operations where he oversaw recruiting, managing travel, budgeting, and alumni engagement. His earlier career included work with the Hoop Group, where he directed over 25 events annually, impacting thousands of athletes nationwide.
Kelley began his coaching journey at the high school level, working at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., as well as with elite AAU programs. A native of Western New York, he holds degrees from Niagara University, St. Bonaventure University and SUNY Cortland.
"I am excited to be back on the sidelines working with Coach Turner again," said Kelley. "Our guys have been ultra-competitive and have done what we have asked so far. I am looking forward to the exciting season ahead."
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Montverde Academy boys' basketball is coming off a 19-8 overall record last season, which included a berth into the Chipotle High School National championship tournament. The team returns four of its players from last season's roster (senior Nikos Koulisianis, sophomore Trace Lopez, senior Dhani Miller and junior Javion Tyndale). Newcomers include junior Malachi Booker, senior Jaxon Clark, junior Lincoln Cosby, junior Derek Daniels, junior Oneal Delancy, senior Jayden Hodge, junior Sebastien Ndour, senior Joe Philon III and senior Kevin Thomas.
MVA will once again compete against a rigorous national schedule against the many of the top high school boys' basketball programs in the nation, including programs from the ultra-competitive Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) Scholastic conference.
The 2025-26 Montverde Academy boys' basketball schedule will be released in the very near future. The team will once again host the Nike EYBL Sunshine Classic on December 5-6 and the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament (MAIT) from January 29 – 31, 2026 as well as other intense games.
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About Montverde Academy:
Montverde Academy is a private, independent college preparatory school for grades Pre-K3 through post-graduate studies, with a boarding program serving grades 7-12 representing 90+ nationalities. Our mission is to inspire students to become knowledgeable leaders with global vision and passion for learning, in a disciplined and diverse community that nurtures character development. For more information, visit us online at Montverde.org and at MVASports.com.
