New Jersey RISE Coaching Team
High School 2027 Team U17
James Cooper JR – Coach 2027 Select 40
High School 2028 Team U16
Chris Conroy – Coach 2025 Team- Select 40
Ellen Masonius – Coach 2028 Team – Regional
Former Division I basketball player and coach Ellen Masonius has dedicated her life to developing young athletes through leadership, teamwork, and strong fundamentals. As Director of the New Jersey Rise Organization, she combines over 40 years of playing and coaching experience with a passion for empowering female athletes on and off the court.
Under her leadership, New Jersey Rise has helped numerous players continue their basketball and academic careers at the collegiate level, including multiple Division I athletes and elite academic institutions. A former two-time 1,000-point scorer, Kerwin Award recipient, and St. Joseph’s University standout, Ellen continues to give back to the game through mentorship, player development, and character-building.
A proud mother of five daughters and five sons, Ellen’s family reflects her lifelong passion for athletics and competition. Three of her daughters have played or are currently playing college basketball, one son played professional hockey, and two sons have played or are preparing to play college football, further strengthening her firsthand understanding of athlete development, recruiting, and the commitment required to compete at the next level.
High School – 2029 Team U15
Rick Leeman- Coach 2026 Team
Rick Leeman brings more than 30 years of coaching experience at the youth and collegiate levels to the New Jersey Rise program. Throughout his career, he has helped over 100 athletes continue their basketball careers at the collegiate level, including coaching future professional players such as Sonia Citron. Originally from Terre Haute, Rick developed his passion for the game under the guidance of his father and basketball legend Larry Bird. Known for his leadership and player development, he is committed to helping athletes succeed both on and off the court.
8th Grade – 2030 Teams
Ellen Masonius – Coach
7th Grade – 2031 Team
Jenny Greene – Coach
Jenny currently is the director of the youth programs for the New Jersey Rise and coaches our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teams. She has coached from 2nd grade through high school and continues to support New Jersey Rise alumni as they continue playing at the collegiate level. Jenny believes in putting a major emphasis on fundamental skills, teamwork, and fun! She teaches her players to have high basketball IQs, skills, and a competitive nature.
Jenny is a middle school teacher in the Carteret School District. She is currently the Head Coach at Carteret Middle School and the Assistant Coach at Carteret High School. Jenny has been coaching travel basketball for 12 years, and she has been a New Jersey Rise coach since 2015.
Coach Chris Conroy
Coach Justin Busco
6th Grade – 2032 Team
Ellen Masonius – Coach
3rd – 4th Grade – 2033/2034 Teams
Jenny Greene, Chris Ramos, Nick Alt, Kathryn Campbell
Youth Developmental Team
Jenny Greene
Trainer/Skill Development
Bob Greene – New Jersey RISE Director of Skill Development