Coach Cash

As a Program Aide at Louis Nine House, Marion “Cash” Cash helps with the daily operations at NCS’s supportive housing residence for young adults who have experienced homelessness or aged out of foster care. He describes his role as a liaison between the clients and staff, noting residents’ routines, knowing who their friends are, and alerting other program staff if anything seems off.  

Good communication and being a team player are essential aspects of the job, but Cash compares the entire experience of working at Louis Nine House to coaching a basketball team. Something he knows a lot about.  

Cash began playing basketball when he was 11 while growing up in the Bronx. His talent and hard work resulted in a scholarship to play for Clemson University, a NCAA Division I school.

After graduation and a few years playing professional basketball abroad, he returned home and spent seven years coaching the NYPD basketball team before realizing his true passion: coaching kids.  

Cash began working for the NYC Department of Juvenile Justice, where he coached 8-17 year olds who lived in group homes. While he taught them basketball skills and how to communicate and be team players, they taught him about their life experiences and what it was like living under a lock down without their families.  

In 2016, with years of experience working with young adults, Cash joined the NCS team — but he missed coaching. And so, a year later he formed a New York State youth basketball league team for 12-14 year olds. He called the team C.O.T.A., which stands for Creating Opportunities Through Athletics. This year the team made it all the way to the state championships!  

Cash explained that he loves coaching 12-14 year olds because he’s helping them develop skills that they use in games immediately, with the goal of eventually making their high school’s junior varsity team. He compared this to working at Louis Nine House, saying that “I see clients move in and then they begin taking Options (the educational and vocational program) seriously. They learn the skills they need and begin looking for job opportunities. Once they have the foundation down, they are able to move out. It’s like the kids on my basketball team.”

Thank you Cash for being a great coach on and off the court!