The Boston startup scene just got a lot more baller. CoachUp, which matches aspiring athletes with professional coaches, announced Tuesday that pro basketball player Nerlens Noel will join the company’s Athlete Advisory Council.
You may recognize Noel from the University of Kentucky’s old starting line, or as the sixth overall draft pick for the NBA in 2013, which brought him to play for the Philadelphia 76ers.
But long before Noel donned that blue and red jersey, he was shooting hoops in Cambridge, being trained by the very same private coach that taught CoachUp Co-founder and CEO Jordan Fliegel.
Said Noel in a statement:
My coaches have definitely played a huge part in my early career and now getting me back out there. ... They've put in a lot of work with me. That's something I really appreciate. It's amazing having my coaches give me that one-on-one time and help me work on my game, especially since I'm still just a rookie. I definitely share CoachUp's belief that private coaching can change kids' lives, and CoachUp is an organization I'm very excited to be a part of.
Noel is currently rehabbing an ACL injury, but is tirelessly working to rehab his jumpshot. In the meantime, however, CoachUp hopes to take advantage of the star athlete’s time on the bench.
As a council member, Noel will support CoachUp's mission, and help advise the startup from time-to-time on strategy, programs, products, services and other matters pertaining to CoachUp’s business endeavors. Nerlens will also participate in future CoachUp events, social media activities, as well as appear in the company's media. Since its start in 2012, CoachUp has raised nearly $10 million in funding.
It’s a clever way to boost marketing efforts: A local sports champ getting involved with a local company. But it’s more than that. Boston is a leader in both sports and tech, so why not find a mutually beneficial way to maximize their time in the spotlight?
Images via CoachUp
