About Core Prep Academy
We partner with existing private middle schools to provide elite athletic training and life skill development during the school day so families can get their time back together.
Our “Scholar-Athletes” love school because they get to focus on honing their craft while experiencing a traditional academic and social school environment.
Our Families Love Us Because
1
Motivation
Core Scholars want to go to school.
2
Connection
Evening time is better utilized for the family.
3
Development
Relentless spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical growth daily.
Schools We Partner With
Southern California
Heritage Christian School
Northridge, CA
Saint Monica Preparatory
Santa Monica, CA
Northern California
Modesto Christian School
Modesto, CA
Kansas
Sunrise Christian Academy
Bel Aire, KS
Become A Partner School
See how Core Prep Academy can help increase your school's numbers across the board.
It Goes Beyond Sports
Our Life Skills Program goal is to actively shape and empower the next generation of Scholar-Athletes and Community Leaders. We believe developing life skills builds high character and self-awareness that fosters a servant leadership-based mentality.
Community Service
Monthly community service with community partners.
Career Exploration
Former collegiate and pro athletes share how they transitioned to their professional careers.
Financial Literacy
We teach our scholar-athletes how to relate to and manage finances.
College Tours
We take visits to colleges and universities creating a desire to attend.
Lasting Learning
UCLA partnered program that uses research-informed strategies to teach students to study more effectively.
How We Got In The Game
Founded in 2015 with just eight student-athletes, we’ve always been dedicated to inspiring young athletes. Past alumni and trainees have included top NCAA athletes and current High School All Americans. Graduates attend many of the most notable universities in the nation, including UCLA, LMU, Kentucky, Illinois, Gonzaga, and Penn. The flagship program was founded on the campus of Heritage Christian School in Northridge, CA, and is now training athletes for basketball, football, baseball, softball, soccer, and volleyball.
The 4 C’s
Convenience
We train your athlete at their school during their PE period.
Coaches
We only hire top-level coaches that are fiercely dedicated to their craft.
Customized
We complement student-athlete-focused college-preparatory academics.
Cost
Combining the costs of private school and sports training is simply smart.
Our Mission
Everyone is different. To realize their full potential, scholar-athletes need a personalized approach that fits their needs because when they love school, they will excel in life, not just the big game. The future of our communities depends on it and it’s our mission to give them every advantage possible.
Meet Our Team
Our entire team is dedicated to providing the leadership and coaching required to help every scholar rise to their full potential in class, in the game, in life.
Founder/CEO
Todd Wilson
CEO Todd Wilson founded Core Prep Sports Academy in 2015. After a life of excellence in academics, athletics and service, Todd focused on changing the status quo for the scholar-athlete communities around him.
In addition to founding Core Prep, Todd served as an NBA Trainer for professional basketball players, international players, and pro and amateur teams. He’s worked on the court with LeBron James, Ben Simmons, Andrew Wiggins, Dwayne Wade, Rodney Hood, Austin Rivers, Jaren Jackson JR., Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Justise Winslow, Seth Curry and others.
Todd and his diverse, talented and compassionate team are actively committed to shaping and empowering new generations of scholar-athletes and community leaders.
Meet Our Highly Skilled Leadership Team
Zach Becerra
Director of Basketball
Esteban Chavez
Director of Soccer
Rossie D. Cherry
Athletic Director
Gideon Gamble
Director of Girls Basketball
Russ Green
Director of Student Wellness
Devina Halpert
Director of Softball
Nathan Mellalieu
Director of Football
Daylon Monette
Program Director / Director of Baseball
Camille Moody
Director of Operations
Samantha Olivas
Director of Student Affairs
Morgan Wijay
Director of Volleyball
Rossie D. Cherry
Coach Cherry joins Core Prep Academy with over 16 years of football coaching experience. He is a proud husband and father of 4. Most recently, Coach Cherry took on the role of Head Coach and Youth Football Coordinator for Faith Christian Academy’s Middle School football program where his team went 5-1 during 2021 Spring season.
Prior to Faith Christian, Coach Cherry began coaching in 2005 with youth football in Lancaster, California. He served 3 years as an assistant coach and 2 years as an Offensive coordinator, prior to being named Head Coaching at West Lancaster Eagles youth football program. Since 2012, Coach Cherry’s team has made playoffs every season, won 2 Conference Championships, and 1 undefeated season winning a Super Bowl title.
Coach Cherry is excited to join the Core Prep Academy team and its commitment to developing, mentoring and supporting student-athletes in pursuit of their goals.
Education
USA Football youth sports certified
Experience
- Assistant Coach, West Lancaster Eagles
- Offensive Coordinator, West Lancaster Eagles
- Head Coach, West Lancaster Eagles
- Head Coach, Pacific Youth Football League All-Star Game 2018
- Varsity Assistant Coach, Faith Christian High School (Arvada, CO) 2019-2021
- JV Co-Offensive Coordinator, Faith Christian High School (Arvada, CO) 2019-2021
- Head Coach/Youth Football Coordinator, Faith Christian Academy Middle School (Arvada, CO) 2019-2021
- Varsity Assistant Coach, Heritage Christian High School, 2021-present
Samantha K. Olivas
Sami is currently head Junior Varsity, and Assistant Varsity girls volleyball coach at Bishop Ale-many High School. Sami is also the director of developmental teams for the Supernova Allstars where she supervises the training of 14 teams, ensuring practices are consistent with the mission of the organization. During her high school career, Sami was a 3 year varsity player, a 2x MVP and was selected for the an all league selection. Following her high school career, she went on to play 2 years at pierce college where her team won conference champions.
Education
M.P.H. Community Health Action B.S. Public Health, Cal State Northridge
December 2019
Experience
- Varsity Assistant Coach, Bishop Alemany 2015-current
- Junior Varsity Head Coach, Bishop Alemany 2015-current
- Director of Developmental Teams, Supernova Allstars,2013-current
- Freshman Assistant Coach, Bishop Alemany 2014
Zach Becerra
Coach Zach comes to us from Texas where he played Varsity Basketball at Round Rock High School at the highest level in Texas, UIL 6A. Zach is also a member of Chris Johnson Hoops where he develops athletes of all levels, including NBA and Overseas professional athletes. Most recently he has helped lead Heritage Christian School to an Olympic League title as a player development coach.
Education
- Varsity Player Development Coach, Heritage Christian School (2020-Present)
- Player Development, Chris Johnson Hoops (2020-Present)
Esteban Chavez
Soccer director Esteban Chavez has 27 years of experience in coaching and developing elite-level women’s soccer players. He is the founder and director of two nationally recognized soccer organizations.
Coach Chavez brings a championship mindset into every environment he coaches with over 85 Cal South, National Cup, and CIF championships and league finals. His passion for helping young athletes reach their potential is what continues to drive him. He has guided over 100 female athletes to collegiate soccer programs including Yale, Cornell, UNC, Penn State, Penn U, NYU, Dartmouth, and Santa Clara.
Experience
- USSF National B License & National Youth License
- University of North Carolina Soccer Camps Staff Coach
- Girls Soccer CIF Advisor
- US Women’s Youth National Team Scout
- US Women’s Youth National Team Training Center Staff Coach
- 6-Time Los Angeles All-Area Coach of the Year
- Built a top-ranked high school program that is consistently ranked in the top schools both athletically and academically.
Devina Halpert
Devina Halpert has been actively involved in athletics from a young age as a multi-sport athlete all the way through high school. Her passion for softball and her dynamic abilities on the field paved the way for a full ride scholarship to the University of Utah. Devina’s success continued as her talents were utilized to play in a professional capacity oversees in Spain. Upon returning from her career as an athlete, Devina was the Varsity Head Coach for two years at a local private school before spending six years as the Varsity Head Coach at Heritage Christian School. During her time at HCS, the program won two Olympic League titles in 2016 and 2017, and made an appearance in the Division 5 Southern Section CIF Championships.
Education
Devina received her Bachelor of Science in Parks, Recreation and Tourism with an emphasis in Sports Management from the University of Utah. Her degree continues to remain beneficial in her management responsibilities within Athletics. Devina has a passion for sports, competition, athletes, and the opportunities that athletics can create both on and off the field.
Daylon Monette
Daylon Monette is a former 3 time MLB draft choice, an All Big XII Conference selection as well as the Oklahoma State University Offensive Player of the Year. After 3 seasons of Minor League Baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals Organization, Daylon retired.
Over the past 15 years, Monette has developed a vast majority of players for Team USA Baseball. There have been over 30 Gold Medals won by ball players who have played under Monette’s instruction. Monette has coached on many baseball teams, including the team that went on to produce 6 MLB Draft products including current MLB stars Giancarlo Stanton and Tyler Skaggs.
Education
Oklahoma State University
Gideon Gamble
Director of Girls Basketball, Gideon Gamble was born and raised in Atlanta, Ga. Gideon obtained a B.S. in Business Management and Entrepreneurship from Winthrop University where he played in 106 games and won a conference Championship for the Winthrop Eagles.
He went on to play professional basketball in the NBA G-League and Internationally (Japan, China, Lebanon, Dominican Republic)
Since then, Coach Gamble continues to train athletes of all ages. He has coached for West Coast Elite, where he served as the assistant director as well as head coach. Coach gamble was also an assistant coach for the Westlake high school girls’ basketball team, and led them to their first playoff berth since 2001
Camille Moody
Camille Moody is the director of operations at Core Prep Academy as well as the head girls’ basketball coach at Heritage Christian in North Hills, CA. Camille played 4 years at Chaminade University of Honolulu and has been coaching basketball ever since. Camille knows the value and importance of youth sports and is especially passionate about uplifting girls and empowering them to be their best in and out of sport.
Russell Green
Director of Student wellness, Russell Green is a certified Nutrition Coach and has been educating families, children and athletes on the many benefits of proper nutrition and being physically active for the past 5 years. At Core Prep Academy, Russell provides not only nutrition education for the middle school athletes he also provides guidance to students on various topics that build their overall wellness. Things such asnRest and Recovery, Social Media Wellness, Renewing of the Mind: Spiritual Wellness (understanding how important you are to God and his Kingdom), Time Management, and Mental and Emotional Wellness. Russell’s ultimate goal is to get children of all ages excited and eager and excited to improve their overall wellness, spirit, mind and body.
Education
Cal State Fullerton, Bachelor in Arts
Nathan Mellalieu
In addition to being Core Prep Academy’s Director of Football, Nathan Mellalieu is the Founder Studeo Gyms, a world leader in boutique fitness. Nathan has helped over a dozen Olympic medalists Gyms. While he has worked with everyone from NFL, NBA, NHL all-stars to business titans, his Gyms specialize in helping non-athletes reach their best.
A native of Canada, Nathan was a standout high school athlete. He went on to play at the University of British Columbia where he was a National Champion. Since then, Nathan has been a youth football coach for 10+ years in the US and in Canada. He comes to Core Prep as a two time provincial finalist, a five time league champion, and a coach of the year title.
We are excited to have Nathan’s leadership experience and expertise to share with our students.
Education
- School of Human Kinetics- University of British Columbia
- USA Football Level