Michael Wood: father, coach and Vassar Security officer

You may have seen Vassar Security Officer Michael Wood patrolling the Moulin Rouge event this past weekend, but what you may not have known is that Wood is also the founder and coach of a community-wide basketball program, the Poughkeepsie Royals. For the past two years, the team has served as a youth organization by providing opportunities for the personal growth of young athletes while reinforcing self-confidence, self-esteem, and the ability to excel on and off the basketball court. Several years ago, support for the program—formerly known as HYPE (Helping Young People Excel)—and its collaborative partner the New Hope Community Center was dwindling, so Wood took it upon himself to revamp the not-for-profit organization.

The program hosts practices and games for kids aged 10 to 14 years in the Poughkeepsie area. The Poughkeepsie Royals also collaborates with local organizations and is currently working on a venture with the Children's Media Project. "We're trying to do some type of documentary that will allow the program to gain more exposure and encourage kids to get involved," Wood said.

Wood has also introduced the Poughkeepsie Royals program to other community centers. In August, the program held a basketball tournament at the local Jewish Community Center. The team invited over 70 players from New York City and Rockland County. The Children's Home of Poughkeepsie was also involved. Wood continued to serve his mission by using athletics as a tool to boost children's self-esteem.

Prior to landing a job at Vassar, Wood played basketball in high school in the Poughkeepsie area before moving to the southern United States where he continued to play ball. He also played for Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) teams and other travel teams. Upon returning to Poughkeepsie several years later, he found that there were not many local resources for kids since the local YMCA had closed. Wood also spent time working for the Poughkeepsie Police Department in the Youth Division. From first hand exposure, he noticed that kids in his sons' generation seemed as if "they had nothing to live for." He then got the idea to get involved and work with young boys in the community. He also got involved for the benefit of his own young sons, Maxwell and Zachary. "When I was young, many things were offered to me that always kept me busy," Wood said. "A lot of these kids have talents, but they don't have the resources to practice."

As a member of the Vassar community, Wood is a strong supporter of Vassar athletics. He has served as a bridge between the Vassar Athletics Department and the greater Poughkeepsie community. "Vassar has done a great deal for me," Wood said. "It has opened up a lot of doors for me as well, and I commend Vassar for that." Wood received funding from the Good Neighbors Partnership, run by Sam Speers, in order to fund the Poughkeepsie Royals program. "[Speers] has been very generous to us on three separate occasions," Wood commented. "I take advantage of the perks that I am offered by working here, such as meeting new people and using the facilities."

Wood has given back to the Vassar community and furthered community ties. The Poughkeepsie Royals recently registered a team in the Dunk for Darfur tournament and currently has an intramural team, boasting a record of 5-2, through Vassar's intramural program. Last year, Wood and the Poughkeepsie Royals collaborated with the Vassar After School Tutoring (VAST) Plus Program by adding an additional component for students who want to play sports after school. Members of the Vassar men's basketball team also helped out with the VAST program, and Wood hopes that the athletes will return after their season concludes next semester. "Being at Vassar enables me to bring the kids on campus and play ball," Wood said.

Beyond inviting the Vassar athletes to join them in their successes, the Poughkeepsie Royals Program also has big plans in store. Wood is organizing a trip to a professional basketball game so that the players who are doing well in the classroom will have an incentive to keep up their performance. The incentive? High-fives from the Cleveland Cavaliers!

Wood plans to provide recruiting exposure for the young athletes through the Poughkeepsie Royals Program. "We're trying to broaden their horizons," Wood said. "A lot of these kids have not even been out of Poughkeepsie." Wood hopes to bring team members to the nation's premier open evaluation session, the Adidas Super 64.

"My goal someday is to have a vacant community center with a basketball court and classroom side by side to emphasize that learning can go hand in hand with athletics," Wood said. Inspired by his sons and recent work in the community, Wood has high hopes for the growth of the AAU-affiliated Poughkeepsie Royals program.  "It's important for the young adults to be able to take advantage of everything that is around them without forcing them to choose between school and sports." Wood hopes that the Poughkeepsie community will unite and provide resources for success to better the next generation.
For his own sons, Wood advises that they can use basketball "as a vehicle." He adds that, "As long as they keep their grades up, they can get a great education, and that's my sole purpose."

For more information about Wood's program, check out his two-part documentary "Baller Education" on YouTube or visit his website at poughkeepsieroyals.com.