User:HolisticAlliance/Ozell Wells

Ozell Wells, a native of the city of Detroit, grew up on the Northeast side of the city and spent a considerable portion of his youth involved in competitive sports. As a basketball player, he competed in numerous Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) competitions and honed his skills at “The Little Big House”, Detroit’s legendary Saint Cecilia Gymnasium, which operated several decades under the leadership of the legendary Sam Washington. Saint Cecilia was home to numerous high school, collegiate and professional basketball players whose influence on the “game” resulted in NIKE marketing campaign that immortalized the gym in a t-shirt design. He credits his early development to former NFL player Royce McKinney, former NBA player Durand Walker and to longtime AAU coach Shelly Moncrief. Ozell Wells’s high school years were spent at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan. As a high school senior, Ozell earned a varsity letter as a member of the Varsity Boy’s Basketball Team, and served as a pivotal motivator and assisted the team in advancing to the DPSL city quarterfinals and to the MHSAA District Finals in 1995. Ozell Wells’ academic prowess also presented various opportunities for him as well as he has also enjoyed membership in various extracurricular activities and environmental awareness groups. As a result of Ozell’s academic interests, and proficiency, he was offered academic scholarships to nearly every school in the United States. Schools such as Harvard, Princeton, Cornell, University of Michigan, UCLA and North Carolina pursued Ozell as an undergraduate student. As a direct result of his passionate and determined play on the basketball court, he was offered scholarships to numerous institutions of higher learning out side of the academic arena. Phone calls from Iowa State, University of Chicago, Chicago State, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Morgan State, Case Western and Embry Riddle University were often left on voicemails at the Wells home. In a very surprising development, Ozell was offered an internship with NASA in Baltimore, Maryland to be housed at the Morgan State University. Ozell embarked on the journey of a lifetime, working alongside the brightest young minds from all over the United States. It was during his tenure in Baltimore that he was able to work out alongside and befriend many of the Morgan State basketball players and the coaching staff. He also spent many evenings and weekends playing at the Suburban Coalition with many of the East Coast’s most talented players. During his time in Baltimore, Ozell realized that he needed more seasoning and returned to Detroit to complete his senior year at Cass Tech. Sorting thru the various offers for a free education was a FAMILY AFFAIR and Ozell eventually decided to attend the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. At the UM, he was to attempt to walk on to the Men’s Basketball Team, as he had befriended a few members of the coaching staff during the summer moths attending camps and clinics where they were also present. It was from that summer camp activity that he gained and nurtured friendships, throughout the United States and in the Dominican Republic that exist to this day. During Ozell’s freshman year, he met and befriended Charles Turner, Head Men’s basketball coach at University of Michigan-Dearborn. It was through the friendship with Coach Turner and the members of the team at UMD, that Ozell effected a transfer to Michigan-Dearborn. Unfortunately, while at the UMD, Ozell discovered that he suffered from a condition of the Autonomic Nervous System that forced him to walk away from the game. Upon discovering the root cause of his condition, he embarked to the Beth Israel Medical Center in New York to have a very intensive surgery at the hands of Dr. Stephen Keller. On his return to the University of Michigan, Ozell discovered that he was still a student under scholarship, and that he needed to resume his course work in order to acquire his diploma in a timely manner. It was then that Ozell also discovered that he could receive college credit for “degree related work experience” by coaching a professional basketball team or working in the professional basketball arena. After close discussion with former Michigan and NBA player Mark Hughes, Ozell decided to assist the Grand Rapids Hoops of the CBA, where Hughes was coaching the team. Wells experienced many life changing and career shaping events during his tenure with the Hoops of the CBA. It was with the experience gained there, and after receiving his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan in June of 1999, he embarked on what soon became a historic career as a professional Basketball Coach. At the tender age of 19, he joined the Hoops, and at 21 years old, he signed his first professional head coaching contract, in Saudi Arabia. Ozell Wells career has taken him to over 35 countries to date, ranging from China to Yemen. Due to his multi cultural experiences (he also holds a Dominican passport), religious beliefs (he is also an ordained minister with the AIWP []), and commitment to giving to the community and to youth; he has partnered in or founded basketball schools in both the Dominican Republic and in the United States. It is with the hopes, dreams, work ethic and passion developed from his youth that he continues to coach basketball as best as he knows how.