In 2009, when a group of boys asked Maureen “Mo” Holohan to coach their seventh-grade team, she agreed — with one condition: no long trips to Long Island or New Jersey. Mo knew Manhattan’s toughest competition was just blocks away on the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, and in Harlem.
“We might lose more than we win, and we may get crushed at times,” she told them. “But this is how you get better — without leaving the city.”
The boys and their parents were all in. That first season brought stiff competition, and the players loved it. Mo — a former high school All-American and three-time All–Big Ten player — taught them to respect the work ethic of their opponents and to match it with their own. By the time they pushed the powerhouse Milbank Flyers of Harlem to overtime in the semi-finals, they understood what it meant to work hard, hang tough, and EARN IT.
From that first team, Mo’ Motion Youth Basketball & Fitness NYC was born. The mission has remained the same: teach proper development and game play, promote amateur sports in New York City, and give back to the community. With funds raised through training events, workouts, camps, and donations, the nonprofit provides scholarships for individuals and sponsorships for teams in need.
What started with one boys’ team has grown to serving more than 700 players each year through Mo’ Motion programs and our grassroots Gotham Basketball Association (GBA) league, which now hosts 65–80 teams annually. We coach players from kindergarten through grade 12, offering equal opportunities for boys and girls both on the court and in coaching roles.
Word of Mo’s approach — focusing on player and team development over winning — spread quickly. Families recognized her attention to detail and her commitment to shaping good athletes and good people. She built a staff of exceptional coaches, many of them accomplished former high school, college, and professional players eager to pass on their knowledge. Our alumni include high school varsity captains, NCAA athletes, professional players, and even Olympians.
Today, Mo’ Motion remains a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to keeping the GBA local and accessible, while working to renovate gyms, community centers, and parks, and to sponsor teams in need of financial and coaching support.
Click here to learn about the program’s core values, and click here for more information on how to donate to Mo’ Motion.