Jimmy Stellato

Coach Jimmy Stellato is the director and co-founder of Texas LoneStar Basketball. He has an extensive and diverse background in the sport of basketball. He has played and coached at the collegiate level along with the experience of having a professional basketball career. As a college coach and trainer, Coach Stellato has sent players to every conference and division of girls' basketball to include SEC, Big East, ACC, Big 12, SunBelt, WAC, Southland, SWAC, Ivy League and many other DIV I and II conferences. While coaching college, he noticed the lack of development in High School basketball players and followed his calling by starting up TLB in September 2013. 

Coach Stellato has a training philosophy that is somewhat unique to the Select Basketball arena. He has been a skills trainer for Texas LoneStar Academy since 2001 and has gained an in-depth understanding of training and how to teach basketball fundamentals from the ground up. When working with TLB teams, he places development at the foundation of the organization and strives to prefect fundamental skills in each of his players. 

EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from LeTourneau University

Master's degree in Education and Health Sciences from Stephen F. Austin University

COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS

Coach Stellato was recruited and played for NCAA Div 1 Texas State University. He then transferred to NAIA Div 1 LeTourneau University for his junior and senior year. During his junior and senior year he was selected as All Conference and during his senior year he was voted Conference CO-MVP as well as All-American. 

PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL CAREER

After graduating from Letourneau, Coach Stellato played 4 years of professional basketball. He had the privilege to play in South America and Europe before returning home to embark on his coaching career. 

MISSION TRIPS

Coach Stellato has had the opportunity to share God's word through basketball by participating in various missions trips. He went with Athletes in Action to Australia and did three tours with Sports for Christ in Panama. 

HIGH SCHOOL 

Coach Stellato attended and graduated from Leander High School. During his junior and senior year of high school he was selected for All District and All CENTX.

COLLEGIATE COACHING

In 2010-2011, Coach Stellato was an assistant coach and offensive coordinator for the University of North Texas women's basketball program. That year North Texas finished 3rd in scoring in the Sunbelt Conference. In 2009-10 he was an assistant coach at Stephen F. Austin University. During that season SFA was the regular season Co-Champions of the Southland Conference and played in the WNIT. They finished the season 1st in scoring in the Southland Conference and 7th in scoring overall the NCAA Division I schools.

In 2008-2009 he was an assistant coach at Texas Woman's University. Stellato helped guide the Pioneers to their second-best season in school history, and their most wins since the 1989-90 season. TWU's offensive took a huge step forward where they showed over a 9 point improvement from the previous year and a jump of 107 spots up to 36th overall in NCAA Division II scoring. During a single season in Denton, Stellato coached and recruited three All-Lone Star Conference selections, three LSC North Division Commissioner's Honor Roll selections and one Daktronics All-Region team selection.

Prior to his move to TWU, Stellato spent six seasons (2002-2008) as the co-head coach at Panola College, where he helped produce one of the most explosive offenses in the nation at a rate of 93.6 ppg. average. In six seasons with Stellato as co-head coach at Panola College, the Fillies posted 140 wins. The Fillies sent 41 players on to 4-year universities on basketball scholarships. Stellato coached 2 NJCAA All-Americans, 9 NJCAA All-Region players, 15 Region 14 All-Conference selections, 15 Region 14 Academic All-Conference selections, 6 Buddy Lowery Outstanding Female Athlete Award winners; 4 NJCAA Academic All-Americans, and 2 NJCAA distinguished Academic All-Americans while he was at Panola.

Stellato joined the Panola College family after four years of playing professional basketball overseas as well as being an assistant for the Men's basketball program at East Texas Baptist University (1997-2001).