×
Dan H., Lexington, MA Basketball Coach

Dan H.

Basketball

SILVER

Confidence Builder, NCAA Coach, College All-American & Hall of Fame, Mentored by Coach Rollie Massimino. View all coaching experience

This coach is unavailable to take clients at this time.

Training Locations
Training Locations
  1. Arlington, MA
  2. Winchester, MA
  3. Lexington, MA

My training location only

  • University of Massachusetts--Dartmouth (MA)

  • 13 years

  • Qualified Private Coach
    Passed Coach Course

  • Adults, Kids, Teenagers

  • Guard, Forward, Center

  • Shooting, Rebounding, Reading the Floor, Post Moves, Pick and Roll, Passing, Moving Without the Ball, Footwork, Defense, Ball Handling, Attacking the Rim, Agility

Credentials

  • University of Massachusetts--Dartmouth (MA)

  • 13 years

  • Qualified Private Coach
    Passed Coach Course

Services

  • Adults, Kids, Teenagers

  • Guard, Forward, Center

  • Shooting, Rebounding, Reading the Floor, Post Moves, Pick and Roll, Passing, Moving Without the Ball, Footwork, Defense, Ball Handling, Attacking the Rim, Agility

More About Coach Dan

About Me

I have thirteen years of coaching experience - ten years at the college level and three years at the high school level. For the last three years I have worked as a coach at Emmanuel College in Boston, Massachusetts. During our first year at Emmanuel, our team won 19 games and advanced to the conference semifinals. It was the best turn around in the entire NCAA. The following year our team won 19 games and were one of the top teams in the GNAC conference. From 2011 to 2017, I worked as a full-time coach at Keiser University under legendary coach Rollie Massimino. Coach Mass is a Hall of Fame coach who was an incredible mentor to me. He is best known for coaching Villanova University to the 1985 NCAA D1 National Championship over highly favored Patrick Ewing and the Georgetown University Hoyas. Before joining his staff, I spent two years as an assistant at Brandeis University. Before Brandeis I worked as an assistant to legendary high school coach Bob Farias at Lexington High School (MA). I am a passionate teacher and coach with over 15 years of experience training athletes of all ages and skill levels.

I have been a basketball coach on Coach Up for over six years and have worked with approximately 120 athletes on this platform. Through my business, Pump It Up Basketball, I have mentored hundreds of athletes in clinics, camps, and personal training sessions.

Training with Me

Training with me is an investment. There are other coaches out there who advertise a cheaper price. However, if you are looking for the cheapest price, you will get what you pay for. It is difficult to find someone who is reliable with experience, and a great teacher. I have had conversations with tons of parents who were frustrated due to hiring unreliable coaches. Athletes who work with me receive much more in return. In addition to years of experience, I also have an extensive basketball network in Massachusetts and in other parts of the country. Being a resource for athletes and parents is included.

During sessions I typically hire assistants to work with me in order to make the workouts more efficient. All of my assistants were excellent players at the high school and college levels, and some have played professionally. They have coached at all levels of basketball and are great with the kids! I like to work with people who are excellent teachers who are passionate about working with athletes of all ages. Not many other coaches provide training sessions like we do. I am a career coach and teacher with years of experience mentoring athletes. Building confidence and inspiring players to be the best they can be is my specialty.

In addition to learning fundamental basketball techniques, training with me provides athletes with access to my vast basketball network. I am a resource for parents and athletes. Having coached under some of the best coaches in college basketball, I have built strong relationships with AAU, high school, and college coaches all over the country. I am fortunate to be in a position where I can help athletes and families. Over the years I have assisted in providing countless opportunities to athletes in terms of making the team, getting recruited by colleges, and being offered employment opportunities and internships.

I am technical and efficient. One of my goals is to teach athletes how to train effectively on their own. It is like learning how to play a musical instrument where muscle memory is involved. We work on particular body movements and concepts during the workout session, and then athletes leave with things to work on. A big point of emphasis is to teach athletes drills and concepts that they can expect to see during the first week of tryouts. I want athletes to make mistakes with me so that they don't make the same mistakes in front of their coach. You only get one first impression during tryouts and I stress this to athletes.

My training methods are proven. Choosing me as your coach is not a gamble. The reason I train athletes is because I love to teach. I have worked as a college professor of finance and economics for over six years, and am currently a full-time faculty member at Emmanuel College in Boston, and an Assistant Professor at Berklee College of Music.

As a student-athlete at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, I was voted captain by my teammates and was one of the top players in New England. During my senior year our team went on to win our first 20 games and were ranked as high as number two in the nation. We advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. I was named an All-American by both the National Association of Basketball Coaches and D3hoops.

As a high school player at Lexington High School (MA), I played for legendary coach Bob Farias. During high school our team was a top 5 ranked division 1 team for my last three years. I was a two time All-League All-Star in the Middlesex League, and I was voted a team captain by my peers in my senior year. Playing for Coach Farias were some of the best times in my life. His teams dominated Massachusetts D1 basketball for 40 years. I am a coach today because of him and Coach Tom Brincklow.

Accolades as a Player
-UMass Dartmouth Hall of Fame
-All-American Basketball Player - NABC and D3hoops.com, 2008
-Little East Conference Player of the Year, 2008
-First Team All-New England, 2008
-UMass Dartmouth Most Outstanding Male Athlete, 2008
-1000+ Scorer
-One of the Top Rebounders in the nation

Sessions are tailored to the athlete depending on their position, age, skill set, or goals. The first session is a little bit slower than following sessions because I spend a lot of time teaching the intricate details of mechanics such as footwork, proper hand position on the ball, athletic stances, and movements. I also like to learn about what the athlete's goals are, and if there are particular concepts they would like to improve on. You will always get my honest feedback, even if it isn't what you were hoping to hear. The goal is to work hard, listen, pay attention to detail, get better, and love playing basketball. Nothing is promised, except that if you work with me, you will be in a better position to reach your basketball goals!

I do not use gimmicks, and I do not waste time. Sessions are designed to assess, address weaknesses, learn proper mechanics, and develop muscle memory through game-like movements and repetitions. All drills are competitive and game-like. The drills are proven to carry over into 5 vs. 5 games. Many trainers will impress athletes with "cool gimmicks", but basketball is a 5 vs. 5 game. If drills do not carry over into the games, then the athlete is not getting better at playing the game of basketball. I also teach athletes how to properly train on their own in order to get the necessary repetitions. It is similar to taking piano lessons for the first time. You meet with your teacher, the teacher shows you a few mechanics, builds your confidence, and then sends you home with things to practice. Then you come back the next week better than you were before. This is a great analogy in regards to private coaching instruction. Building muscle memory is a process and it must be done using proper fundamentals.

Workouts are tailored to the athlete based on age, skillsets, and goals.

A typical workout session includes:
-Warm up with various dribbling drills
-Form/set shooting: Emphasis proper mechanics
-Stepping into shot: 1-2 step with inside foot, Jump Stop
-Shooting off the dribble: Pump fake 1 dribble pull-ups, shooting off of ball screens, dribble pull-up shots, etc.
-Getting open: Freeing yourself three different ways - V-cut, reverse pivot, stepping over defender's path
-Offensive moves: Rip moves, jab steps, pump fakes, triple threat, euro step, step hop, spin moves, etc.
-Post moves: jump hooks, up and under, spin move, double up and under, face up moves, etc.
-Free throw mechanics throughout the workout
-Play 1-on-1, king of the court, etc.
-Defensive fundamentals: Closing out, boxing out/rebounding, pick and roll defense, guarding on and off the ball, etc.

Action Photos

Client Reviews

Kyle really enjoyed himself

We had a great lesson with Coach Holbrook. My son was engaged, learned a lot, and had a lot of fun. Looking forward to our next lesson!

Coach Dan was great - he knew the best steps to get me back in basketball shape and provided specialized workouts that really pushed me to the next level. Thanks Coach Dan!

Coach Dan was a great coach! He and Coach Tom were excellent mentors for my 15 year old son who has been playing basketball for a few years but has some performance anxieties. After one session they gave constructive feedback, suggestions and comments. He also wanted to see videos of my son playing basketball and after watching the video, knew how he could help him. His trainings and techniques were fabulous. I would recommend Coach Dan to anyone!

(no details provided)

Coach Daniel was great. He was very welcoming and hands on right away. Did a lot of work in one hour and gave good tips. I was very satisfied with the session and would highly recommend Coach Daniel to anyone.

My son really enjoyed his session with Coach Dan. He was able to identify some weaknesses and provided great tips for improving.

(no details provided)

(no details provided)

(no details provided)

Dan is a fantastic coach. He truly loves basketball and shares this joy with those he trains. My son feels that Dan challenges him and pushes him to improve, while also providing lots of positive feedback. He feels that he learns a great deal each time they train together. Moreover, my son is super impressed with Dan's energy and enthusiasm. On the way home today, he told me 'Dan is a great guy. He loves basketball and really enjoys training with kids...you can tell.' Hard to get better feedback from a teenager. Thanks!

(no details provided)

Great coach. My son liked working with him

Daniel is a good coach who helped my son with footwork and shooting

Great clinic.

Coach Dan was great! My son really enjoyed the workout and we look forward to scheduling our next one!

The first session with Daniel went very well. He was very informative and really spent the time showing and explaining shooting techniques and form my son needed. My son looks forward to ongoing sessions.

(no details provided)

Coach Dan is fantastic! My son enjoys working with him each week. He’s fun, smart and positive. A great coach!!!!

Coach Daniel was amazing! Immediately while working with my son he was able to see where he needs work and gave him several different improvement skills that he can work on daily. He really took the time to teach my son and was extremely positive. My son is eager to learn more from him and really enjoyed the lesson.

My son had a great first session. No time wasted. Straight into drills with Coach Dan identifying helpful adjustments to shooting form. Very excited for the next session!

(no details provided)

Dan Holbrook is a great coach, and my son is enjoying his sessions with him. Very knowledgeable and excellent teacher.

Daniel was great, my son loved him and in one lesson improved his shooting

(no details provided)

Daniel was excellent with my son Jett. Very informative and high-energy. My son loved it. I would definitely recommend.

Coach Dan was excellent. He provided valuable feedback to my son regarding technique, etc. after just one session. We look forward to the next one!

Had a great first session with Daniel. He went right to work on addressing weaknesses and really focused on hammering home the fundamentals. Looking forward to future sessions!

We had two lessons with Daniel. There was no wasted time during the sessions consisting of one full hour of instruction. Each session drilled home the basics and concepts and my 12yo son loved each session and wanted more. Great coach, especially for younger kids who need to have the basics reinforced. Great confidence builder, and would recommend this coach without reservation.

Thank you Coach for a great first session!
My son is getting ready for his high school basketball season and the skills and drills he learned will improve his game immensely.. Coach has a positive and encouraging teaching style and focuses on the mechanics of the player and the game. My son is looking forward for his next session.

Coach Daniel is really transforming my son's basketball game. He knows how to pinpoint the areas for improvement and puts together mini games during their sessions so that he can have some experience practicing these

My friends and I tried a 1 hour session, the drill is far below expectation. it's even far below what the session plan said. We learned little in the session and no improvement at all. I tried other coach sessions before, and the other coach is much responsible and dedicate than coach Daniel.

(no details provided)

No nonsense, intense training session. Filled with actionable moves and good insights. Somehow Coach Dan was also able to give my son and I a hell of a workout at the same time. I like that Dan had some assistants to help keep things moving quickly. Now the hard part will be to remember what he taught us and put it into action so that it becomes part of our muscle memory. We’ll definitely continue our sessions with him!

(no details provided)

(no details provided)

(no details provided)

My son is more excited to learn than I have see him in months. Coach Dan really helped my son build confidence in just one session. Coach Dan covered so much in one session. I don't think my son realized how much he learned because he enjoyed every minute of it. I highly recommend Coach Dan and we are all excited for the next session.

(no details provided)

Thank you so much for an amazing lesson, I learned so much - can't wait for the next !!

(no details provided)

He is very efficient and my son Loves his training skills 😇

My son had an excellent first session. Coach Holbrook is very thorough, methodical and highly dedicated. Looking forward to continuation of these sessions with coach Holbrook.

Coach Dan is amazing!!! He has worked with my 13 yr old son for a couple sessions now and we already see a huge improvement in his confidence and skills. He cant wait to work with Dan again!

Dan does a great job, especially with post players. The facility at Brandeis is well equipped with a shooting machine.

(no details provided)

(no details provided)

Very engaged and determined coach. Has a strong desire to help me get to the level I want to play at.

(no details provided)

(no details provided)

My 11 year old son had his first session with Coach Dan today. Coach Dan was on time, professional, personable and built a great rapport. His drills were a great step up from what he's been doing and exactly what he needs to bring his game to the next level. Can't wait for next session!

(no details provided)

Coach Daniel is great working with my 8th grade son. He is upbeat, enthusiastic and knows what he is doing. He usually has two assistants working with him so they can really focus on form and technique. After the second session they suggested adjustments to improve my son's balance on his jump shot and to better protect the ball on his drives to the basket- observations missed by his travel and middle school coaches. My son was initially dubious as to working with a private coach but now he finds it to be very helpful.

(no details provided)

Daniel and Brandon are awesome. Super positive and personable coaches. I have no organized play experience and Daniel knew exactly where to begin with my training. I must say I have noticed a very positive change in my game and will definitely be signing up for future sessions! Thanks again!

My son just finished his 1st session with Daniel and had good workout. Daniel has an array of drills and is very enthusiastic. Looking forward continuing to train with him.

(no details provided)

Professional training and good attitude. Positive experience

Coach Dan is great with my 12 year old. My son is really just starting out in basketball, and coach is very patient with him and has great techniques for teaching him skills in a way that he understands. The sessions are fun and rewarding.

Coach Dan H. Got right down to business assessing what our man does well and What needs work. He is very knowledgeable and he is effective at sharing what he knows. He ran an up-tempo session and left us with skills and drills to take home and work on areas of weakness. He's a natural coach!

Coach Daniel was a great Coach. I learned a lot today. He has great energy and enthusiasm. He is very easy to learn from and has great techniques. I am looking forward to another session with him soon.
Thanks Dan B

Coach Daniel listen to my concerns and put my son through various drills and worked with him on all aspects of his game. He gave him several things to work on in between sessions. Looking forward to more workouts with him.

We had a great first session with Coach Dan. His enthusiasm and passion for the game is evident when he coaches. Our oldest son is very excited to be working with him. We look forward to his next workout.

Outstanding. Daniel just does not have them run a drill. He will stop and correct. He teaches the kids. We will be back

Coach Daniel, is on time and focused. He recognized areas to work on and immediately assisted to improve. He uses every minute to the very end. My son has enjoyed his sessions! Look forward to working with him again.

(no details provided)

Great workout. It was fun and the coach was very energetic.

(no details provided)

Our son had a great first session with Coach Daniel. He was able to quickly assess where our son was at and what he needed to improve on and he made it fun while still focusing on the necessary skills. He gave him instruction on what to work on for the next session and we look forward to more lessons from Coach Dan.

My 12 year old son had one session with Daniel. I wasn't sure how much we could accomplish in one hour but Daniel exceeded my expectations. From dribbling, to free throws, to shooting, each drill had specific, meaningful instruction and techniques...far from the generic run-throughs I've seen at many other practices and clinics. Additionally Daniel immediately built a rapport with my son, made sure he understood everything he was showing him and did it with enthusiasm. This isn't someone who just loves basketball but loves teaching basketball. We will surely be scheduling more sessions with Daniel.

(no details provided)

After working a short time with my son, I felt Coach Dan understood his game and worked with him to improve his fundamentals and game skills.
My son enjoyed working with Coach Dan and can't wait to continue to improve. It is great to see a coach that can work with all skill levels and ages.

My 8 year old son really enjoyed working with Coach Daniel. They worked on dribbling, in bounding the ball, and taking shots. He worked him hard, but really explained everything so that my son understood why they were doing the drills and how it would help him. My son was very excited after the session and definitely wants to keep working with him. He was also very responsive to emails, easy to schedule sessions with, and trains in a great facility. This was a great experience for my son!

My daughter recently had a session with Coach Dan and it could not have gone any better. Coach Dan was extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of the game and had excellent drills prepared designed for my daughter. The facility where the session was held was top notch and had a great shooting machine. My daughter felt very comfortable working with Coach Dan and is excited to work with him again.

Daniel is a fantastic coach. He brought out skills in me that I didn't know I had and he was very encouraging. In just my very first session he appreciably improved my shooting and he has taught me some great low post moves. Looking forward to continuing to work with Daniel!

Coach Daniel was excellent! He worked with my 12 year old son - who has some experience but is looking to improve his game. He broke skills down into parts so that my son could isolate areas to focus on. He used creative exercises, had great rapport, knew when to change to a different drill, covered a lot of ground and clearly KNOWS basketball. He was patient and encouraging but also driven and focused - my son found it to be very helpful and inspiring!

Coach Dan is the best coach I've ever had, he has improved me on my shooting form, controlling my dribbiling, my fakes and my agility. He's patient and pushes you beyond your comfort zone. I had so much fun and learned a lot from him. I highly recommend coach Dan.

Coach Dan is excellent! Even from the first session he left an impact on my son. We saw immediate change in his shooting. Dan is knowledgeable, patient and personable. My son learned a lot but also had fun. I couldn't get him off the court! I highly recommend Dan.

Coach Holbrook is knowledgeable and enthusiastic. He knows how to engage kids and inspire them to get better. I highly recommend him.
Coach Dan was the best coach I ever had
Share This Coach

CoachUp's Got Your Back
  • Runs Sex Offender screening on every coach
  • Ensures high quality coaches with verified reviews
  • 100% money back guarantee
  • Offers 24/7 support and helpful Athlete Advisors
  • Easy payments via credit card, no need for cash
  • Provides convenient scheduling with calendar integration
  • Enables automated reminders before training sessions
  • Captures post-session feedback directly from your coach

Questions? We can help.