Dearborn Basketball Coach Joins Michigan’s Top High School Program

LIVONIA, Mich. - Feb. 20, 2014 - PRLog -- Livonia, MI – The Dearborn native began his coaching career in the early 1980s in the recreational leagues of Livonia, Michigan. Dearborn High School Head Coach and Athletic Director, Gene Snell, offered Nazelli an Assistant coaching position in the boy’s program.  A few years later he became the Girls Varsity Head Coach.

Nazelli’s coaching talents were soon noticed by Schoolcraft College.  He was offered the Women’s Assistant position and remained until 1990.

Throughout the decade, Nazelli coached in Europe during the summers and was asked by the Swedish Basketball Federation to promote and direct an international basketball camp outside Stockholm.  His camps drew players and coaches from Scandinavia and northern Europe as well as the United States.

Nazelli coached an historic match against the Spartak youth team in Leningrad on June 24, 1985.  His Livonia Cardinals (14 and under boys) team was the first youth team from the United States to compete in the Soviet Union.

The crowning moment in his basketball coaching career came when the Swedish and Finnish Basketball Federations proposed that Nazelli put together a collegiate all-star team to compete in an Olympic development program in Helsinki.  Both countries along with Turkey were hoping to qualify for the upcoming Summer Olympics; and, they were eager to compete against some of the best American college players.

With the assistance of Sandy Sanders from Ann Arbor, they formed the Michigan Collegiate All-Star Team that included Glen Rice, Terry Mills, Dan Majerle, John McIntyre and Reggie Fox.  The team toured Finland and Sweden for two weeks while playing exhibition games.

For the last stop on his basketball coaching career at Detroit Country Day, Nazelli’s duties will include scoring statistics and records during each game and scouting reports of future opponents.

Detroit Country Day began the 2013 – 2014 season with an all new coaching staff.  Incoming coach, Mark Bray from Utica Ford High School, takes over after 35 years from legendary high school basketball coach, Kurt Keener.  Country Day has garnered nine Michigan High School Basketball championships.

Nazelli noted that Coach Bray has Country Day positioned for many more championship banners starting with this year’s team and Mr. Basketball candidate, 6’ 4 Guard, Edmond Sumner.